Semporna district police chief, Supt Peter Umbuas said the suspect, who was self-employed, was suspected to have fled after allegedly stabbing his wife.
“From the initial investigation, the victim’s son said that at about 4am, the suspect had woken up from sleep in the living room and went into the victim’s room to get cosy with her. However, he was denied, and an argument ensued.
“Following that, the suspect was believed to have taken a samurai sword measuring 72cm long, and slashed both the victims on the arms and wrists, stabbing her chest three times, causing her to collapse, before fleeing and discarding the samurai sword,” Supt Umbuas said in a statement, here, today.
The seriously injured victim was rushed to Semporna Hospital and pronounced dead there.
The suspect and the victim had been married since 1991, and had eight children — four sons and four daughters — aged between 13 and 22. The victim was a full-time housewife.