MELAKA: Police have detained a 25-year-old murder suspect in a brief struggle after tracking him from here to a foreign workers' hostel in Selangor.
The Indonesian suspect, a plantation worker, allegedly bludgeoned his elderly employer with a hammer after being scolded.
Melaka Tengah OCPD Asst Comm Christopher Patit said his detectives took a few days to track down the suspect, an Indonesian, who was hiding out at Bandar Sultan Sulaiman in Port Klang, where he was arrested on Monday (Jan 1).
"The suspect was detained in an ambush at the hostel where his friend, who is also from Indonesia, was staying," he said.
ACP Christopher said the suspect fled Melaka after allegedly murdering 72-year-old smallholder Ong Kok Kim at an oil palm plantation at Lorong Sidang Haji Ahmad in Paya Rumput here at 12.30pm on Dec 22.
He said the victim's body was discovered a few days later at a makeshift office in the secluded plantation and a police report was lodged at Sungai Udang police station on Wednesday (Dec 27).
ACP Christopher said the suspect is believed to have fled the scene in the victim's pick-up truck and drove it to Rembau, Negri Sembilan where it ran out of fuel on Dec 22.
"He then used an ehailing ride to get to Tampin bus station, where he took an express bus to Port Klang," he said.
ACP Christopher said the suspect allegedly stole the victims' belongings, including his mobile phone, as well.
Police recovered the victim's wallet and pick-up truck keys from the suspect after arresting him, he added.
The victim's phone was recovered from a telecommunications outlet at Bukit Rambain here where the suspect allegedly sold the device on Dec 22.
ACP Christopher said the suspect told investigating officers he was agitated by his employer for scolding him over unfinished work.
He said the suspect was under a seven-day remand order to help in the investigation under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.
