Explainer: Everything we know about the discovery of six skeletons in Skudai plantation

JOHOR police have detained four individuals to facilitate investigations following the gruesome discovery of six human skeletons in a burned, abandoned house within an oil palm plantation in Kangkar Pulai, Skudai.

This grim find has finally revealed the fate of a family of five who had been reported missing previously.

The Victims

Forensic post-mortem examinations have confirmed that the remains consist of two adults and four children.

The adults were identified as a 29-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman who were known to one another.

The four younger victims were the woman’s children, comprising a 17-year-old girl, two younger girls aged five and nine, and a two-year-old boy.

Johor Police Chief Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad stated that forensic experts believe all six individuals were murdered and their bodies set alight approximately three months ago.

How was the case discovered?

The case came to light after a 48-year-old man lodged a police report at 1.28 pm on Jan 9.

He had been attempting to trace his estranged wife and children, who were believed to have been staying at the abandoned house.

Upon inspecting the scene, authorities found six human skeletons inside the charred remains of the structure.

The house was located in a remote area, situated approximately two kilometres from the main road and far from any residential developments.

Who are the suspects?

Police detained four locals - three men and one woman, aged between 19 and 35 - on Jan 21 in the Iskandar Puteri area.

According to Ab Rahaman, the suspects were linked as fellow drug users and all possessed prior criminal records.

Investigators established that the suspects were friends of the deceased man and woman and had previously been involved in drug abuse together.

“Preliminary urine screening found that three of the suspects tested positive for methamphetamine.

“The relationship between the suspects and the deceased adult man and woman was that of friends and they had previously been involved in drug abuse,” he said.

It was also revealed that the woman’s children had not been attending school, further isolating the family in their remote living conditions.

The legal process

The legal process is now moving forward as investigation papers have been referred to the Johor Attorney-General’s Chambers.

Two of the male suspects are set to be charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder, while the remaining two individuals have been released on police bail to serve as witnesses for the prosecution.

The formal charges are expected to be presented at the Johor Bahru Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

Under Section 302 of the Penal Code, a murder conviction carries the death penalty or imprisonment for a term of not less than 30 years and not more than 40 years, along with a minimum of 12 strokes of the cane.

Authorities have urged the public to refrain from speculation that could jeopardise court proceedings.