Police Close In On Mob Killing After Lewd Act At Jasin Supermart, Seven Arrested

ALOR GAJAH, July 28 (Bernama) -- A joblessman was confirmed dead after he was allegedly beaten by a furious mob, following a lewd act he committed in the parking lot of a supermarket in Jasin yesterday, said Melaka police chief Datuk Dzulkhairi Mukhtar.

He said in the incident at about 9 pm, the 51-year-old victim died at the scene due to severe bodily injuries. He has two previous records under Section 377D of the Penal Code for committing gross indecency in a public place in 2003 and 2024.

"Based on early investigations, the victim is said to have committed an act of gross indecency at 7.26 pm before he was chased and assaulted by several individuals.

"The victim tried to escape for about 200 metres, including a desperate leap into the river, before being caught by the public and beaten again," he said after officiating at the Melaka Schools Sports Council Athletics Championships at the Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) in Durian Tunggal here today.

He said seven men aged between 20s to 50s, including a Pakistani national, were remanded for seven days starting today to assist in the investigation under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.

In a separate case, Dzulkhairi said a motorcyclist in his 30s was remanded for three days from today for beating a man in his 20s in a fight near Bulatan Kancil in the Stadthuys compound at Banda Hilir yesterday.

He said the incident allegedly occurred when the suspect and 17 of his biker friends were fined by the Melaka Historic City Council (MBMB) enforcement officers for violating the Vehicle Free Zone (ZBK) in the area with their vehicles.

He said the MBMB enforcement officers had asked the group of motorcyclists to leave, but they were ignored before they were issued summonses for ignoring council orders.

"The group led by the suspect then tore up the summonses and a confrontation broke out between them and another group of bikers.

"The victim, who was struck with a helmet and a wheel lock, was later rushed to the Melaka Hospital with minor injuries," he said.

Dzulkhairi said all 23 individuals involved were arrested between 9.30 pm and 1 am yesterday, but 22 of them were released on police bail while the suspect was remanded for three days.

The case is being investigated under Section 148 of the Penal Code for rioting and Section 186 of the Penal Code for obstructing a public servant in the performance of his duties.

-- BERNAMA