ALOR GAJAH - Enraged by someone else's cattle damaging her durian orchard, an elderly woman, along with her friend’s son-in-law, slaughtered the animal.
The cow's meat was then distributed to residents in Kampung Orang Asli Kubang Badak, Tebong here.
However, the actions of the 69-year-old suspect and her friend’s son-in-law, an Indonesian man in his 30s, were exposed after the cow's owner found the head of the slaughtered animal in the suspect’s durian orchard.
Alor Gajah District Police Chief, Superintendent Ashari Abu Samah, said they received a report from a 38-year-old man at 8.54pm last Friday regarding the disappearance of one of his cows.
"The complainant reported that one of his 84 cattle went missing, suspected to have occurred between 5.30pm on July 4 and 6.30pm last Friday.
"While searching for the animal, he was shocked to find a cow's head with a numbered tag issued by the Veterinary Department, which was his, in the suspect’s durian orchard," Ashari told reporters on Wednesday.
He added that the man then went to the orchard owner’s house to inquire about the matter.
An elderly woman confessed that the cow had been slaughtered by her friend’s son-in-law.
"It was because the animal had eaten her durian plants.
"As a result, the complainant lodged a police report and the incident caused him a loss of about RM3,000," he said.
He added that the complainant also claimed that around 20 of his cattle had gone missing over the past year.
Acting on the police report received, the police arrested the elderly woman and the Indonesian man at her house around 7.30pm last Saturday.
"Upon investigation, the suspect also admitted that the meat of the slaughtered cow had been distributed to villagers.
"Both suspects are remanded until July 10 and 12 to assist in the investigation under Section 379/428 of the Penal Code," he said.