KOTA KINABALU: A Pakistani trader, whose body was found in a shallow grave in interior Keningau, is believed to have been killed because he was trying to recover a RM50 mobile phone instalment debt from a Filipino man.
Keningau OCPD Supt Yampil Anak Garai said that initial investigations found that the main 33-year-old Filipino had allegedly attacked the victim, who was pressuring him to repay the debt during an argument.
"The suspect's monthly mobile phone instalment payment was RM50, but he had failed to make payments for four consecutive months," Supt Yampil said.
He said the main suspect was arrested at 9pm on Wednesday (Sept 24), in Kampung Sayur, Jalan Durok, after being identified as being involved in the murder.
He said the suspect led to the arrest of another 37-year-old Filipino man in Kampung Kilang Bata, Jalan Keningau-Tenom, at 11.30am on Thursday.
“The second suspect claimed that he was not involved in the murder but admitted that he helped to lift the victim's body after being approached by the first suspect.
“The suspect only lit up the area using a mobile phone and helped lift the body into the hole dug by the main suspect,” Supt Yampil added.
The body of the Pakistani trader was found with head injuries by police in a freshly dug grave in Kampung Kitung along Jalan Keningau on Sept 23 after his friend lodged a missing person report on Sept 22.
The duo has been remanded for seven days to facilitate the murder investigations.
The 30-year-old Pakistani trader's body was found buried about 100m from the suspect's house.
The victim was a rubber plantation caretaker who lived with his three children.
