KOTA KINABALU: Police believe the man who allegedly hacked his six-month-old grand-niece to death in Sabah’s Kinabatangan district had been suffering from depression.

       Sabah Deputy Police Commissioner Datuk Jauteh Dikun said initial investigations found the 60-year-old suspect had developed the mental condition two years ago.

       He said that based on information obtained from relatives and neighbours, the man had been neglected by his family members.

       This is believed to have caused a mental strain on the suspect until he finally snapped.

       “Another reason that likely contributed to his depression was after his son was arrested for not having proper identification documents two years ago,” he said to reporters at the Sabah police headquarters here on Thursday (May 12).

       Jauteh said police have also taken blood samples from the suspect to determine whether he was under the influence of drugs or alcohol when the incident occurred.

       He said the suspect has been remanded for 10 days for investigations under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.

       He added that the man is still being treated at hospital due to his poor health.

       In the incident on Tuesday (May 10), the suspect is said to have hacked his grand-niece to death as well as injuring her 35-year-old mother at a house in Kampung Ubi Sungai Pauh in Kinabatangan.

       The police managed to track down the 60-year-old suspect, believed to be a foreigner, at a nearby oil palm plantation. They also retrieved a machete which was likely used in the attack.