Fire deaths turn out to be murder-arson

KUALA LANGAT: An elderly couple and their two grandsons were believed to have died after their wooden house was razed to the ground. Then came the tragic story.

Traces of accelerants at the scene of the incident, in Jalan Tepi Laut, Tanjung Sepat near here, prompted both Fire and Rescue Department as well as police to thoroughly examine the remains of Chia Tee Nang, 73, Lim Mai Shak, 68, and their two grandsons Ryan Chia Zeng Xi, 10, and Chia Yuan Bin, three.

Tragic end: Lim (left) and Chia perished in the fire together with their grandsons Ryan and Yuan Bin (inset).

They found slash marks on the victims, leading police to conclude that the victims were murdered before the house was set on fire.

Devastating sight: Firefighters inspecting the razed wooden house in Tanjung Sepat.

“However, the cause of death will only be confirmed after the post-mortem,” said Selangor police Criminal Investigation Department chief SAC Fadzil Ahmad.

No arrest has yet been made, said SAC Fadzil, contrary to reports in a vernacular daily that two suspects had been caught.

Overwhelmed: A relative of one the victims of the Sungai Long fire overcome by emotion at the scene.

The post-mortem has been scheduled for today at the Banting district hospital.

One of the couple’s grandsons managed to escape. The boy, 12, hid in the toilet during the attack and ran out of the house after the assailants left the scene.

In shock: Relatives and friends of the victims waiting near the scene in Tanjung Sepat.

Selangor Fire and Rescue Depart­ment assistant director (operations) Mohd Sani Harul said the distress call was received at 6.08am.

He added that 15 firemen and two fire engines were sent to the scene.

“The firemen found Lim’s and Chia’s remains at 6.43am and 6.47am. The children’s remains were found at 6.58am,” he said.