The feeling of despondency because their son is mentally retarded is believed to be the reason for a couple jumping down from their condominium unit, after killing their two-year-old son on Thursday.

Kuala Lumpur police chief Muhammad Sabtu Osman said investigation revealed that the couple, who were both Indian nationals, could not accept the fact and killed their son before jumping down from their condominium unit.

"No criminal elements or any other factors were found except that they were despondent over their son's mental condition which prompted them to commit suicide after killing him," he said.

He disclosed this to reporters after launching the Community Policing Programme at the Taman Tun Dr Ismail Police Station today.

He called on the people not to speculate on the incident.

Given rat poison

In the incident, Manish Dinesh Wadhwani, 34, and his wife, Niveditaa Manish Wadhwani, 29, both of whom were from Mumbai, India, jumped down from their condominium unit at about 4am.

The couple's son, Yoganash, was found dead in the master bedroom of their house with his nostrils stuffed with cotton. He was believed to have been given rat poison.

Having assured that their son was dead, the couple reportedly took the lift to the 29th floor of their condominium and jumped to their death.

"The remains of all three had been sent home to their country of origin by Manish's employer yesterday," he said.

In another development, Muhammad Sabtu said a 38-year-old martial art exponent, who was believed to have been involved in a cheating and extortion case, was detained at a shopping centre in Damansara on Thursday.

- Bernama