Sandakan police chief ACP Mohd Azhar Hamin said police received information at 9.20pm yesterday about a 38-year-old Timorese woman who had died at Sandakan Hospital.

An investigating team rushed to a house at Kampung Sandak, Mile 10.

Investigations found that a 40-year-old-man, also a Timorese, had an argument with his eldest son.

The Indonesian woman tried to calm them down, but the man only got more incensed and assaulted her.

“It is believed the man kicked, pushed and slammed his wife on the floor before she lost consciousness,” said Azhar in a statement.

“Neighbours took the woman to hospital where she received treatment but she died at 9.20pm.”

The police chief said both the man and the eldest son fled after the incident.

Acting on a tip-off, police apprehended a suspect at a house in an oil palm estate at Jalan Settlement, Mile 12, at 6.30am today.

“The man will be remanded for investigation under section 302 of the Penal Code for murder,” said Azhar.