KOTA KINABALU (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - A father killed a 38-year-old man after he allegedly tried to rape his daughter at an estate in Tawau.

The man, an estate worker, was said to have sneaked up behind the 17-year-old who was watering some flowers at about 8.20am last Friday (May 26) before putting a sack over her head.

The girl fought back and managed to get the sack and the man off her.

She ran away screaming for help. Her 54-year-old father was nearby at the time.

It is learnt that the girl's father attacked the man with a parang.

Tawau police chief Assistant Commissioner Fadil Marsus said the man was slashed several times on his legs and body during the scuffle.

"The estate worker collapsed after he was slashed," he said.

The man died soon after he was sent to the hospital for treatment.

The girl's father was nabbed by a security guard following the incident and was later handed over to the police.

ACP Fadil said he will be remanded until Friday (June 2).