KOTA KINABALU, Feb 13 — A personal dispute and a claim over engagement money are believed to be the motive behind the murder of a woman whose body parts were found at multiple locations in Indah Permai yesterday.
Kota Kinabalu acting district police chief Supt Syed Lot Syed Ab Rahman said initial questioning revealed that the main suspect, a 71-year-old man detained yesterday evening, had admitted his involvement in the crime.
“Further investigations are ongoing, and the police assure that the probe is being conducted thoroughly, transparently, and professionally to ensure that justice is served,” he said in a statement today.
Syed added that the arrest followed a tip from a witness who saw the victim flee a house in distress before a man dragged her back inside.
A team from the Kota Kinabalu police headquarters' Criminal Investigation Division, together with D7 and D9 units, detained the 71-year-old at the Queen Elizabeth II Hospital's Emergency Unit at 8.10 pm to assist with the investigation.
Following the senior citizen's arrest, a 19-year-old, also believed to be involved, was detained at a unit in Taman Seri Maju Apartment, Sepanggar.
“Several items were seized, including mobile phones, clothing believed to have been worn during the incident, and a Nissan X-Trail vehicle,” he said.
The case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code.
Yesterday, a sanitation worker discovered several of the victim’s dismembered body parts at a dumpsite in Indah Permai at 7am. Further searches led to the discovery of the victim’s head and torso nearby.
