JOHOR BAHRU - A foreign woman who was seven months pregnant was found dead and covered in blood at a house in Kampung Makam, Kota Tinggi, this morning.
Kota Tinggi District Police Chief Supt Yusof Othman said that the police received information from the public regarding the discovery of the unconscious victim at approximately 7:42 am and following the report, a team of police officers from the Criminal Investigation Division of the Kota Tinggi District Police Headquarters were deployed to the location to verify the incident.
Initial police examinations found the pregnant woman lying in a pool of blood with head injuries believed to have been caused by a blow from a blunt object.
The victim was later confirmed dead by medical officers from the Kota Tinggi Hospital.
Yusof Othman added that the police have detained the victim's husband, a foreign national in his 30s who was present at the couple's rented home, to assist with the investigation.
Further investigations conducted by D10 forensic officers from the Johor Contingent Police Headquarters led to the discovery of a stone mortar, which is suspected to have been used by the suspect as a weapon.
The victim's body has been sent to the Forensic Department of Sultan Ismail Hospital in Johor Bahru for a post-mortem, and the exact cause of death remains under investigation.
Yusof stated that the police do not rule out jealousy as a possible motive for the incident, adding that an application for a seven-day remand against the suspect will be presented before the Kota Tinggi Magistrate tomorrow.
The case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the death penalty or imprisonment for a term of not less than 30 years but not exceeding 40 years, along with at least 12 strokes of the cane, upon conviction. - BERNAMA