ALOR SETAR - Police have arrested a 29-year-old local man, believed to be the son of a 52-year-old woman who was fatally stabbed, less than 24 hours after the incident on Monday.
Kota Setar district police chief Assistant Commissioner Syed Basri Syed Ali said the suspect was detained at about 8.34pm following an operation by the Kedah Criminal Investigation Department, in cooperation with the Kota Setar district police headquarters’ Criminal Investigation Division.
He said the suspect was arrested while travelling on an express bus at Kilometre 441.5 southbound of the North–South Expressway, en route to Selangor.
“Checks found that the suspect has one previous criminal record.
“An initial urine screening test conducted on the suspect returned negative,” he said on Tuesday.
Syed Basri said following the arrest, the suspect was brought before the Alor Setar Magistrate’s Court at about 8.30am and remanded for seven days from Feb 3 to Feb 9 to assist investigations.
He said Magistrate Nur Syifa Mohd Hamzah allowed the police’s remand application to enable a thorough investigation.
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 whipping, upon conviction.
Syed Basri stressed that the public is advised not to speculate or spread unverified information that could interfere with investigations.
“Firm action may be taken against any individual who spreads false information and they may be investigated under the relevant legal provisions,” he added.
On Monday, media reported that the District Control Centre of the Kota Setar district police headquarters received a call at 8.45am from the victim’s son, reporting the killing of his mother, who was believed to have been stabbed and assaulted.
The incident is believed to have occurred in the early hours of the morning before one of the victim’s six children found her unconscious and covered in blood.
So far, the motive remains under investigation.