Man Smashes Five Banking Machines With Machete in Sarikei After Failed Cash Withdrawal

A 38-year-old man went on a rampage in Jalan Masjid Lama, Sarikei, smashing banking machines with a machete and slashing a member of the public.

Police said it began around midnight, after the suspect failed to withdraw cash from an ATM. Sarikei police chief Superintendent Aswandy Anis said the man acted out of dissatisfaction and admitted he was under the influence of alcohol.

Machete Rampage at Sarikei Bank: Suspect Drives Against Traffic, Crashes Into Divider

Five machines at a Hong Leong Bank branch were damaged: two ATMs, two cash deposit machines and one cheque deposit machine.

The suspect then fled in a Toyota Hilux, driving against the flow of traffic before crashing into a road divider. A 21-year-old man who tried to stop him was slashed on his left hand and rushed to Sarikei Hospital with severe injuries.

The suspect turned himself in at Sarikei Police Station. Police seized the Hilux and the machete. He has no prior criminal record, but a urine test came back positive for Ketamine and Benzodiazepine.

Police are investigating under Sections 427 and 326 of the Penal Code, Section 45(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 and Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952. They advised the public to put their safety first and avoid confronting armed individuals.