JOHOR BARU: Four suspects will be charged with murder following the discovery of a body wrapped and bound with netting in Sungai Tanjung Sembrong in Parit Raja, Batu Pahat.
Johor police chief Comm Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad said police had arrested two more local men, aged 33 and 34 years old, in Kluang at about 7.45pm on Aug 4, bringing the total number of suspects arrested in connection with the case to five.
“Following information provided by one of the suspects, police seized a pistol from a house in the Yong Peng area at about 6.30pm on Aug 9.
“Checks found that one of the two suspects had a previous criminal record, while urine tests on both men came back negative for drugs,” he said in a statement on Sunday (Aug 16).
Comm Ab Rahaman said the investigation papers have been referred to the Johor state prosecution director’s office on Thursday (Aug 13).
“All four suspects would be charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder on Monday (Aug 17) at the Batu Pahat court.
“Meanwhile, one of the suspects will also be charged under Section 8 of the Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act 1971 for unlawful possession of a firearm at the Kluang court at a later date,” he said.
Comm Ab Rahaman said another suspect, who was arrested earlier in connection with the case, would be released and made a prosecution witness.
The body was discovered in Sungai Tanjung Sembrong around 12.30pm on Monday (Aug 3) after members of the public alerted the authorities.
Next-of-kin later identified the deceased, who had been reported missing by his wife on July 29, through his clothing and personal belongings.
Following the discovery, a joint team from the Johor and Batu Pahat Criminal Investigation Departments arrested three local men, aged 26 to 40, in Batu Pahat on Monday (Aug 3).
