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The victim was an 18-year-old college student by the name of Yacoob Nasran. He was out with his elder brother and seven other friends.
Yacoob was from a college in KL while his elder brother attended a university in Singapore. They were both back for the holidays.
The group of friends just wrapped up their night out at a pub in Api Api Centre along Jalan Coastal in Kota Kinabalu. While exiting around 4:15am, they noticed a commotion just outside.
A man and his ex-wife, who works as a waitress at the pub, were having a very heated argument and the group worried that it could turn physical (not the good kind, either.)
Yacoob and his group tried to defuse the situation, but the man, a car re-possessor, did not appreciate the teens’ interference and it escalated into a fist fight.
Kota Kinabalu’s police chief, Assistant Commissioner M. Chandra said that it was then when the man pulled out a sword and haphazardly swung it at the teens, The Star reports.
“We believe Yacoob went to block the blow that could have hit one of his female friends”
– ACP M. Chandra
The police chief said that in doing so, Yacoob was hit on the neck and forehead in addition to a few more gashes to the 18-year-old’s face.
Yacoob’s elder brother, 19-year-old Nabil as well as another friend sustained minor injuries and are likely getting medical treatment.
The death of the teen who was only there to help resonated with Malaysians. It definitely had made Malaysians (unfortunately) think twice about jumping in to help others in need. What has this world become?
According to FMT, Yacoob was described to be a ‘cheerful, selfless and helpful’ guy.
“He was very selfless and helpful towards his friends. When it came to defending his friends, he would always be there in the frontline.” his friend Lee told FMT.
ACP Chandra has confirmed that the police have since arrested two “main suspects” from a house in Bukit Padang at about 9am yesterday. Two samurai swords have been seized.
The man’s ex wife, two bouncers and the pub’s manager have been detained to help with the ongoing police investigation.
ACP Chandra has also written to the Kota Kinabalu mayor to shut down the pub, which was operating way beyond the 1am cap on its business licence.