TAWAU: A foreigner linked to an armed robbery and attempted rape tried to drown a policeman at sea after attacking him with an iron rod during a chase in a water village here.
The incident occurred at 4pm on Oct 9, prompting police to fire warning shots before arresting the suspect.
The operation involved policemen from the Tawau district police headquarters' Criminal Investigation Division, Tawau police station's Strike Team and Titingan police outpost, who were tracking three suspects.
The operation was aimed at tracing suspects linked to an armed robbery and attempted rape involving an 18-year-old foreign woman.
Tawau district police chief Assistant Commissioner Rosdi Mat Jusoh said the suspects were believed to have taken two mobile phones and RM434 in cash from the victim, with total losses estimated at RM3,500.
During the arrest operation in Kampung Titingan, one suspect became aggressive and tried to attack policemen with an iron rod before jumping into the sea.
He then assaulted and tried to drown a policeman while being pursued, forcing officers to fire warning shots before arresting him.
Two policemen were injured in the incident, and an iron rod believed to have been used in the attack was seized.
The suspect, a foreigner in his 30s, had no valid identification documents. A preliminary urine screening test returned positive results for methamphetamine and amphetamine.
Rosdi clarified that a video circulating on social media showed only warning shots being fired during the operation, not an exchange of gunfire as some users had allegedly misinterpreted it.
Police are still tracking down two other suspects believed to be involved in the case, which is being investigated under Sections 395, 397 and 354 of the Penal Code.
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