The young man who was severely beaten by villagers for allegedly stealing a motorcycle last Friday succumbed to his injuries at the Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital in Kuala Terengganu today.

Acting Besut police chief DSP Noorzainy Mohd Noor said Mohd Zul Hafis Ilias, 21, from Gong Dasar, Jabi, near Besut, breathed his last at 3.15 pm yesterday.

"Public who witnessed the incident are required to contact the nearest police station to facilitate investigation of the case, which will be done under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder," he told reporters yesterday.

At 11.30pm last Friday, Mohd Zul Hafis was found unconscious after being beaten by villagers for allegedly stealing a motorcycle in Kampung Kubang Bemban near Kampung Raja in Besut.

- Bernama