Four murders, bodies burnt and dumped in river

The house cum workshop where the murders took place in Tapah

IPOH: Four people were murdered, their bodies burnt and their ashes and bones thrown into a river at a workshop in Tapah near here.

The murders started with a 57-year-old man who was reported missing on Oct 30, 2012. After that, a tour bus operator, 56, went missing on March 1, 2014 followed by a vehicle spare parts dealer, 54, also last year.

The latest in the murders was a 46-year-old land broker, who was reported missing by his son on Aug 25 after he left the house in Kampung Sungai Lah, Chenderiang in the morning and never returned.

Perak deputy police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Hasnan Hassan said the victims were murdered and their bodies burnt at the workshop in Tapah. Their ashes and bones were later thrown into a river to conceal the murders.

Police now believe that they have solved the murders in connection with the missing persons reports on the four.

On Oct 26, they nabbed a family comprising a 57-year-old mechanic, his wife, 54, and their two children aged 17 and 20, at their house in Tapah, some 55km from here.

DCP Hasnan said the murders were believed to have taken place between 2012 and this year.

"The forensic team from the police and the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital conducted a two-day crime scene investigation on Oct 30 and 31 in a few areas in Tapah.

"A few bone samples were found and have been sent to the hospital for a post mortem, as well as a DNA test for identification," he said.

DCP Hasnan said the suspects' latest victim was murdered and burnt at the suspects' bus workshop in Tapah.

"His bones and ashes were thrown into the river nearby while his motorcycle was left on the side of the road heading to Cameron Highlands," he told journalists on Monday.

DCP Hasnan said further investigations revealed that the other three victims were killed and disposed of using the same method.

All the victims were believed to have been killed over debts, failed land sales and stolen land titles.

DCP Hasnan added that the main suspect - the mechanic - was previously charged with four counts of breaking and entering, one count of fraud, one count of robbery, and one case of breach of trust.

"All four suspects have been remanded until Nov 6 to assist in investigations. 

"I urge those who have any information related to this case to contact their nearest police station, as we have reason to believe that there could be more victims involved," he said.