BELURAN: A plantation worker has succumbed to his injuries after a week in the hospital following a fight with a colleague at a plantation in Paitan on June 8.
The victim, a 43-year-old Indonesian man, was declared dead on June 14.
District police chief Superintendent Hasan Majid said that the altercation between the victim and his co-worker arose from a misunderstanding.
"The severely injured victim was initially taken to Beluran Hospital and was pronounced dead on June 14," he said during a press conference at the Beluran district police headquarters today.
The 25-year-old Indonesian suspect was apprehended on the day of the incident.
Originally, the case was investigated under Section 326 of the Penal Code for causing grievous hurt.
However, following the victim's death, the charge has been upgraded to murder under Section 302 of the Penal Code.
In a separate incident, a 41-year-old Indonesian man was detained after a fight at a plantation in Telupid resulted in serious injury to another worker.
This incident occurred on June 14, also due to a misunderstanding between the suspect and the 22-year-old victim, who is currently receiving treatment at Beluran Hospital.
"The suspect is detained, and the case is being investigated under Section 326 of the Penal Code for causing grievous hurt," Hasan added.
He also emphasised that the police would take stern action against any criminal activities in the district, urging the public to adhere to the law.