KUALA KRAI: An elderly man has died after allegedly being beaten by his son with a blunt object in an incident that took place in Kampung Baru Kuala Gris, Dabong, early Wednesday (Aug 6) morning.
Kuala Krai OCPD Supt Mazlan Mamat said that police received an emergency call at 7.30am from a member of the public. A team from the Kuala Krai police headquarters and Dabong police station rushed to the scene, where they discovered the 74-year-old victim lying in a pool of blood in the kitchen.
"Initial investigations revealed that the victim was struck on the head with a blunt object, resulting in serious injuries, and was confirmed dead at the location," Mazlan stated.
"Police detained a 30-year-old male suspect, the victim's son, and seized a broken chair used in the incident."
Mazlan revealed that initial urine tests showed the suspect tested positive for methamphetamine.
The suspect is a former inmate of the Batu Jong Satellite Prison in Kuala Krai, released in early July for an offence under Section 39C of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
Since his release, the suspect had been living with the victim and his mother. Checks found the suspect had a criminal record with five prior drug cases and two cases of criminal intimidation.
The victim's body was sent to the Sultan Ismail Petra Hospital Forensic Unit for a post-mortem. The suspect will be brought to a Magistrate's Court on Thursday (Aug 7) for a remand application.
The case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code. Members of the public with information are asked to assist by contacting investigating officer Asst Supt Nagantheran at 09-966 6222 or the Dabong police station.
Meanwhile, the victim's wife, Rohana Che Daud, 63, recounted that before the incident, she was preparing to go to the surau at 5.40am while her husband, Othman Jusoh, 74, chose to perform the Subuh prayer at home.
"At that time, I saw my son lying on the sofa, talking to himself. There was no argument or signs that he was out of control," she said.
"But when I returned from the surau around 6.30am, I was shocked to see my eldest son pressing a wooden chair against my husband's neck, who was still on the prayer mat. My husband wasn’t moving, and there was blood on the floor, and the chair he was using was broken."
The couple have six children, and according to Rohana, their eldest child had not slept all night and had been in and out of prison due to drugs.
"He previously worked in Johor and has only just returned to live with us since last month," she added.
The victim's neighbour, Tuan Noor Azwanis Tuan Mohamad, 38, reported hearing screams for help after completing her Subuh prayers.
"I felt uneasy when I saw the suspect pacing in front of the house, talking to himself at around 4.30am," she said.
"When I heard the screams, I opened the door and saw Rohana in a panic, asking for help to call the police because her husband was covered in blood. I quickly pulled her into the house and locked the door because I was worried the suspect would act more aggressively." – Bernama
