11-year-old boy dies after suspected homemade firearm discharges in Sabah, Malaysia

MALAYSIA: An 11-year-old boy has died from a gunshot wound to the head after a firearm known locally as a “ginsok” reportedly discharged while he was at a hut on a rubber smallholding in Sook, Keningau, Sabah, Malaysia, on Saturday (10 October).

Local news reported on Monday (12 October) that police were investigating how the homemade firearm was obtained, stored and handled.

Boy dies after being taken to hospital

Keningau police chief Superintendent Erwansyah Abdul Basir said police received a report about the incident at about 2.35pm on Saturday.

Preliminary investigations found that the boy had been at a hut with another child when a single shot was fired.

The boy sustained serious head injuries and was taken to Keningau Hospital for emergency treatment, but died from his injuries.

A post-mortem examination conducted at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kota Kinabalu on Sunday (11 October) confirmed that the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head, according to Erwansyah.

The reports did not establish who fired the weapon or the circumstances in which it discharged.

Police examine firearm and investigate possible negligence

Police are conducting forensic and ballistic examinations to determine the firearm’s type and firing mechanism, as well as how it was obtained, stored and handled.

According to NST, the case is being investigated under Section 31(1)(a) of Malaysia’s Child Act 2001, which concerns neglect that exposes a child to danger, and Section 8(a) of the Arms Act 1960, relating to possession of a firearm without a valid licence.

Erwansyah urged the public not to possess firearms without permission and reminded licensed firearm owners to keep their weapons securely stored in locked places.

He also called on the public to refrain from making statements that could interfere with the investigation.