Husband discovers wife's body in oil palm plantation with slash wounds

BEAUFORT - A husband's world shattered when he discovered his wife's lifeless body with slash wounds in an oil palm plantation at Kampung Ulu Bambangan, Membakut, near here, yesterday.

The body of the Filipina woman in her 30s was found at about 11.30am, with her right hand almost severed, slash marks around her neck and a wound on the right side of her forehead.

Beaufort district police chief Deputy Superintendent Ismail Abdullah said initial investigations revealed that the victim was believed to have gone missing while she was working in the oil palm plantation where she was employed.

"The victim's body was discovered by her husband after he found her black trousers in the oil palm plantation area.

"Family members then searched for the victim around the area and eventually found her body in a bush nearby. There were injuries on her body and slash wounds," he said in a statement today.

Ismail said investigations were carried out by the Sabah Contingent Police Headquarters Criminal Investigation Department's (CID) forensics unit on the body at the scene.

"The examination results showed that the victim's right hand was nearly severed, with a wound on the right side of the forehead and slash marks around the neck, believed to be injuries caused by a sharp weapon.

"The investigation also led to the arrest of three men and a Filipina woman in her 30s to assist in the murder investigation," he said.

He added that with the arrest of the four suspects, police will continue to track down other suspects.

"The four suspects arrested so far will be remanded to assist in the investigation under Section 302 of the Penal Code.

"Efforts to locate other suspects are ongoing with the assistance of the Special Investigation Division (D9), the K9 Tracker Dog Unit and the forensics unit," he said.