Sandakan Police chief ACP Azhar Hamin said the 53-year-old woman was home alone during the incident.
“However, she managed to call her sibling, who is also residing in the same village, and was rushed to the Duchess of Kent Hospital.
“She is now receiving treatment at the intensive care unit and is in a stable condition,” he told reporters here yesterday.
Azhar said initial investigations found that the suspect was the victim’s neighbour known as “Eb”, a Filipino who has been residing in the village since 2008 and earning a living by doing odd jobs.
Two gold necklaces were missing from the victim’s house and efforts were being made to track down the suspect, who is still believed to be in the district, he added.