Octogenarian dies after being attacked by neighbour

An elderly woman died after she was believed to have been assaulted using a wok in a robbery attempt by her next door neighbour, at her in a village here today.

In the 2.30am incident, the victim, Rokiah A.Rahman, 84, died at the scene.

Kuala Terengganu District police chief ACP Idris Abd Rafar said the body of the woman was found lying unconscious by her daughter Saripah Ibrahim, 52, after the latter came back from work.

"Initial checks revealed there were no signs of injuries on the body but we believe that the wok had been used (in the assault) as it was found near the body," he said when contacted by Bernama here.

Idris said according to Saripah, the suspect, in her 30s, had walked out from behind a closet before strangling her (Saripah's) neck and hit her head, which led to a scuffle.

The suspect, who is also a colleague of the victim's daughter and from Selangor, was then apprehended by other neighbours before she was handed over to the police.

Meanwhile, in an unrelated case, the Royal Malaysian Customs Department in Terengganu confiscated about 15,000 cartons of contraband cigarettes worth RM2.067 million in two raids in Kuala Nerus and Marang, yesterday.

Its director, Aidid Tajuddin said police detained a 53-year-old man to be remanded for 14 days after the suspect failed to prove that the cigarettes were imported legally.

He urged members of the public with information on smuggling activities to lodge report to the department's State Enforcement Division at 09-6225674 or its toll free line 1-300-888-500. -- Bernama