PADAWAN: Three elderly hunters were arrested yesterday to help with investigations into the accidental shooting of their friend, who was mistaken for a wild boar.
The mishap, which happened in a forest at Kampung Giam, came to light around 12pm when the police were alerted of the incident by the victim’s family member through a phone call.
Padawan police chief Supt Abang Zainal Abidin Abang Ahmad said three police teams and Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) paramedics were promptly deployed to the scene to investigate the case.
“Three men, aged 59, 70 and 80, were arrested along with the seizure of three shotguns, two bullet casings, a live round, a permission book to carry and use weapons/ammunition and two licences to own firearms and ammunition.
“All of the suspects will be remanded for further investigation under Section 304A of the Penal Code and Section 8(a) of the Arms Act 1960,” he said.
He disclosed that the deceased, who is a retired staff sergeant, has been identified as 64-year-old Gadin Gambong from Kampung Garong.
Medical examinations found the deceased died from 13 gunshot wounds – gunshot wounds on the left shoulder blade, gunshot wounds on the left waist and gunshot wounds on the right buttock.
The deceased’s body was later taken to SGH for a post-mortem.
Abang Zainal added that investigations found that the deceased had gone out with his brother and two friends around 8am to hunt for wild boar with canine assistance.
“At around 11.30am, they saw signs of a wild boar (in the forest) and chased it with the help of dogs.
“Fifteen minutes later, the 70-year-old suspect spotted the movement of an animal believed to be the wild boar. He fired the first shot about 20 metres away from him and fired a second shot after seeing the animal trying to run away.
“When the suspect approached, he found that it was not the wild boar that had been shot but his hunting partner,” he said.
The deceased’s brother, who heard the friend’s scream for help, immediately ran out of the forest and contacted his family member to inform them of the matter.
