SHAH ALAM - An 80-year-old Singaporean man’s final days took a grim turn far from home, ending in a chilling discovery in Indonesia.
On Feb 20, the body of of a man identified as Syed Saleh was found floating in the Citanduy River at about 2.30pm encased in hardened cement.
According to Indonesian media outlet Detik, just days earlier, Syed Saleh had been seen in Bogor on Feb 16, travelling in a blue Toyota.
It was reported that he was expected to return to Singapore on Feb 25.
As investigators began piecing together the case, attention quickly turned to three individuals believed to be connected to his death.
Two suspects have since been arrested, while a third suspect remains at large.
Police said the three men knew each other, having previously worked together and described the suspect who was still at large as the alleged mastermind behind the killing.
Authorities believe the motive may have stemmed from jealousy.
It was reported that Cilacap police chief Budi Adhy Buono said the third suspect was in a relationship with a 40-year-old woman named Lina, a woman Syed Saleh was believed to have had feelings for.
“The motive was jealousy because the victim had feelings for a woman named Lina. However, Lina is in a relationship,” Budi was reported as saying.
Investigations, as reported by CNA Indonesia, also found that Lina’s parents were familiar with the victim.
Syed Saleh had reportedly travelled regularly to Sukabumi to seek alternative treatment, during which he became acquainted with the family.
However, what appeared to be a routine trip took an unexpected turn for him.
Police believe the murder took place in a rented house in Sukabumi, a location that had been secured about a month before the incident, pointing to signs of premeditation.
According to Detik, Syed Saleh had travelled from Jakarta to Sukabumi to meet Lina and was directed to the house upon arrival.
Unaware of what awaited him, he entered the property where the attack allegedly took place. Lina, police said, had no knowledge of the plan.
Inside the house, Syed Saleh was allegedly struck twice on the neck with a bamboo pole by one of the suspects who were arrested, while the other suspect was believed to have covered the victim's mouth to silence him.
After the attack, the suspects allegedly wrapped his body in plastic and a bedsheet before encasing it in a cement mixture that later hardened.
The suspects then transported the body about 100km away to Cilacap, where it was dumped into the river.
“The location of the disposal wasn’t random, they already knew that there’s a dam in Cilacap,” Budi said.
The case is currently under investigation by police in Sukabumi.