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Murder suspect who dumped body in septic tank not mentally ill, say cops

The suspect in the murder of a senior citizen whose body was dumped into a septic tank in Kampung Sungai Burung, Balik Pulau, on Monday, has no history of mental illness.

Southwest district police chief superintendent AA Anbalagan said based on investigations and checks conducted, the 29-year-old man was never registered at any psychiatric centre or mental hospital for treatment.

"However, the unemployed man tested positive for petrol addiction, causing him to hallucinate. The suspect will behave normally if he is not under the influence of petrol,” he told a press conference, Balik Pulau yesterday.

He said further detailed investigation was being carried out and they would not rely solely on the confession of the suspect.

“We are still gathering evidence and there is a possibility that we will apply for a remand extension if we can’t wrap up the investigation by next Tuesday,” he said.

The Balik Pulau Magistrate Court allowed the man, arrested on Tuesday, a day after the incident in Jalan Air Putih, here, to be remanded seven days to assist in the investigation into his mother’s murder under Section 302 of the Penal Code.

On Monday, the body of Faridah Hashim, 63, who had been missing from home since last Wednesday (Sept 19), was found inside the septic tank behind her house by her son-in-law at 2.30 pm. Her family had lodged a missing person’s report on Sept 21.

The suspect, the youngest child of the victim, admitted to the crime by using a vegetable knife to stab her on the neck before subsequently slashing her.

Police with the help of firefighters took more than two hours to extricate the woman’s body and the results of the preliminary examination by the forensic team found slash wounds on the front of her neck.

- Bernama

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