The man was said to have confronted the 17-year-old girl while she was watering some plants about 8.30am on May 26.
He covered her head with a sack but the teenager fought back and got the sack removed.
Her screams caught the attention of her father, 54, who was nearby.
The daily said the father was believed to have attacked the estate worker with a parang.
Tawau police chief ACP Fadil Marsus said the man was slashed several times on his legs and body. He collapsed and later died.
The father was nabbed by a security guard and later handed over to the police.