KUALA LUMPUR: Police today confirmed that the case involving a soldier who was allegedly shot dead by a poacher in a forested area in Sarawak has been classified as murder.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said police are in the process of tracing all witnesses as part of their probe into the death of the soldier.
"The post mortem is expected to be conducted tomorrow. We have classified the case as murder under Section 302 of the Penal," he said when contacted on Monday.
It was earlier reported that the soldier who was undergoing training in a forested area in Song, within the Kapit Division, was fatally shot allegedly by a poacher early this morning.
Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Mancha Ata had confirmed the incident adding that the 28-year-old Corporal was pronounced dead while receiving treatment at Kapit Hospital at 7.43am.
Police received a report about the incident that occurred at Batu 5 Jalan Balak Multiplus forest area, Song, at 5.57am today
The informant reported that a soldier undergoing training was hit by a gunshot, believed to have been fired by a member of the public hunting in the area.
The severely injured victim was transported to Kapit Hospital but was pronounced dead while receiving treatment.
A source said that the victim was from the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Ranger Regiment and was engaged in the "Eksesais Pasak Bumi Siri 2/2024" training exercise when the incident occurred.
The victim sustained injuries to his waist and left thigh from the gunshots, which occurred at about 2.45am.