A family of four have been arrested in connection with the recent gruesome murders of at least four individuals in Perak.

Perak Deputy Police Chief Datuk Hasnan Hassan said the suspects were directly involved in a missing person case since 2012 who were ghastly murdered using a similar modus operandi where victims are set ablaze and the remains thrown into a river.

Hasnan said that the police have begun their probe which led to arrests of the family at a residence located in Kampung Sungai Lah, Tapah on October 26.

He also said that the main suspect is a 57-year-old mechanic in Tapah and believed to have committed the crime with several accomplices including his 54-year-old homemaker-wife and their sons aged 17 and 20.

The victim was murdered, set ablaze at a workshop owned by the first suspect. The rest of the combustion was dumped into a river while the victim’s motorbike was abandoned by the roadside en route Cameron Highlands.

“Police will continue with their probe of the suspects,” said Hasnan.

Three more victims -- all of whom are on the missing person list believed to be related to these suspects -- are still missing in Tapah and believed to have been murdered using similar modus operandi.

According to him, the three missing victims included a 56-year-old tourist bus operator, a 54-year-old spare parts dealer and a 36-year-old mechanic. The three victims have been reportedly missing since 2014.

Hasnan also said that Perak IPD and Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital forensic experts have conducted their probe at the scene and DNA samples had been dispatched to the hospital for post-mortem. Family members will also be summoned for identification process.

The motive of murder is believed to involve debts and stealing employees' possessions.

The first suspect has seven criminal records including thefts and burglary.

“Following this development, the police hope to get cooperation from the public to come forward to assist our investigation.

All suspects will be remanded until November 6 for investigation.