MIRI: A senior citizen’s trip to receive treatment at Miri Hospital almost turned into a tragedy after he was robbed at knife-point of his possessions while sleeping at the Visitors Information Centre in Jalan Padang, here yesterday (Jan 27).
District police chief ACP Hakemal Hawari who confirmed the incident, said the 64-year-old unemployed man from Batu Niah, who only had RM3 in his pockets, had decided to sleep on the sidewalk of the building as he did not have money to pay for the hotel he was staying in since last Sunday (Jan 24).
“After receiving treatment at Miri Hospital, the complainant decided to stay at a hotel from Jan 24 until 26. As he did not have enough money to pay the room rent, on Jan 26, the complainant decided to check out of the hotel and sleep on the sidewalk.
“At about 10.30pm, when he was sitting and about to sleep, he was approached by a man who asked for his possessions but the complainant refused to give in to the suspect.
“The suspect then became angry and pointed a knife at the complainant while asking for money but the complainant said he did not have money. The suspect then took the complainant’s duffel bag and fled,” he said today.
Hakemal said based on information received from the complainant, police managed to arrest a 44-year-old suspect later that night.
“On Jan 27 at approximately 11.10pm, the Miri CID successfully arrested the suspect at Jalan South Yu Seng and confiscated the stolen items,” he added.
