ALOR STAR: Police have arrested a 28-year-old man suspected of murdering a bank operations executive, less than 24 hours after her body was discovered.
The suspect was apprehended at 8.34pm yesterday while travelling on a tour bus at Km441.5 of the North-South Expressway (southbound) heading toward Selangor.
Kota Setar district police chief Assistant Commissioner Syed Basri Syed Ali said the arrest was a coordinated effort between the Kedah contingent and the Kota Setar district criminal investigation departments.
“The suspect has been detained to assist in the investigation into the murder of a 52-year-old woman at a housing estate here yesterday. Checks revealed the suspect has a previous criminal record.
“However, his preliminary urine test returned negative for drugs,” he said in a statement today.
The victim, identified as Zahrullail Basir, 52, was found dead with three stab wounds at her home in Taman Sultan Abdul Halim, Jalan Tanjung Bendahara, yesterday.
Following the arrest, the suspect was brought before the Alor Star magistrate’s court today.
Magistrate Nur Shifa Mohd Hamzah granted a seven-day remand order effective until Feb 9.
The case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder, which carries the death penalty or imprisonment of between 30 and 40 years and caning upon conviction.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
