Remand extended for Istiqomah's murder suspect

ALOR GAJAH - The remand order against the male acquaintance of the murder victim, Istiqomah Ahmad Rozi, 33, whose dismembered body was found in a drain along the Alor Gajah-Tampin trunk road, near Kampung Rimau, Pulau Sebang, here, on Dec 31, last year, has been extended for seven days.

Magistrate Dr Teoh Shu Yee issued the extension until Aug 19 to assist the police in their investigation under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.

Earlier, the suspect, 37, who was wearing a face mask and an orange prison uniform, arrived at the Alor Gajah Magistrate Court around 8.30am, escorted by policemen.

The wife of the 36-year-old suspect, who was also remanded for a week from Aug 6, was released on police bail.

On Jan 6, the media reported the discovery of the decapitated body of a woman, believed murdered and stuffed in a garbage bin, was found in a drain along the Alor Gajah-Tampin road, near Kampung Rimau, Pulau Sebang, at about 2pm on Dec 31.

The body was covered only with a red cloth and had its head, legs (up to the knees), and hands severed.

Eight months later, on Monday, Sinar reported that the remains discovered in December belonged to Istiqomah.

A DNA test confirmed the identity.

Alor Gajah district police chief Superintendent Ashari Abu Samah revealed that intelligence gathering by the Special Investigation Unit (D9) of the Melaka Criminal Investigation Department, along with the Johor Criminal Investigation Department and the Alor Gajah District Police Headquarters Criminal Investigation Division, led to the arrest of the married couple.