KOTA KINABALU: A father and son arrested in connection with the murder of a woman whose body was dismembered have shed new light on the crime's motive, police say.
The crime, earlier thought to be sparked by jealousy, is now attributed to personal misunderstandings and issues regarding an engagement dowry payment, Kota Kinabalu acting OCPD Supt Syed Lot Syed Ab Rahman said in a statement on Friday (Feb 13).
The suspects, both locals, were arrested separately at 8.10pm and 10.30pm on Thursday (Feb 12) and have been remanded for seven days, he added.
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Supt Syed Lot said that the investigating team was informed that a woman in her 40s, believed to be the victim, was last seen running out of a house in Kg Sri Kenangan, Sepanggar, in a frantic state before a man pulled her back in.
"Following leads, our team tracked down the first suspect, a 71-year-old man who was receiving treatment in hospital, and arrested him there," he said.
A 19-year-old suspect was subsequently detained at the Taman Seri Maju Apartments in Sepanggar, he added.
According to Supt Syed Lot, police also seized mobile phones, clothes and a vehicle.
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"Both suspects are being probed for murder," he added, urging anyone with knowledge of the case to contact the police.
Earlier on Thursday, a trash collector stumbled upon a dismembered arm that fell out of a rubbish bag.
This led to the discovery of more body parts in other nearby dumps.
