Police Remand Main Suspect In Alor Setar Bank Executive Murder

ALOR SETAR, Feb 3 (Bernama) -- Police have secured a remand order for a 28-year-old man, the main suspect in the murder of a woman at a house on Jalan Tanjung Bendahara here on Monday.

A seven-day remand order was issued by Magistrate Nur Syifa Mohd Hamzah, until Feb 9, to facilitate the investigation under Section 302 of the Penal Code.

In a statement today, Kota Setar police chief ACP Syed Basri Syed Ali said that the suspect was arrested at 8.34 pm last night by a team from the Kota Setar district police headquarters and state Criminal Investigation Department. 

"The suspect was arrested within 24 hours of the incident to assist in the investigation into the murder of a 52-year-old woman, which occurred in a residential area here.

"He was detained while boarding a tour bus at kilometre 441.5 southbound of the North-South Expressway," he said.

He disclosed that the suspect has a prior criminal record and tested negative in an initial drug screening.

The victim, Zahrullail Basir, 52, was found dead with three stab wounds to her body and injuries to her head at a house in Taman Sultan Abdul Halim, Jalan Tanjung Bendahara, yesterday morning. The victim, a bank operations executive, lived with her three children. 

He added that investigations found that a handbag containing a mobile phone, cash, and jewellery was missing from the scene. 

He appealed for public cooperation to facilitate the investigation, warning that firm action would be taken against anyone spreading false or unverified information.

"Such individuals can be investigated under the relevant legal provisions and face appropriate penalties," he said.

-- BERNAMA