Police classify death of two elderly siblings as murder

One of the elderly siblings, who were found dead in their house at the Sungai Beruas Oil Palm Plantation in Kampung Pulau Meranti yesterday, died from injuries after being struck by a blunt object.

Manjung District Police chief ACP Tengku Mohd Zailan Tengku Ahmad Shah said a post-mortem at the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital in Ipoh found the body of Salasiah Yaakob, 71, also had bruises on the nose, arms and legs.

However, he said the cause of death of her sister, Salamiah, 76, could not be ascertained as her body had decomposed.

"Claims saying one of the victims was raped cannot be confirmed as both the bodies already had maggots, were swollen and had turned blackish.

"An examination at the scene could not find signs of forced entry or if any scuffle took place while we are not sure if any item is missing," he told a media conference at the Manjung District Police Headquarters here, today.

He said police had classified the case under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.

He said the motive was not yet known and that police were conducting a detailed investigation on the case.

Tengku Mohd Zailan said police were hunting the suspects involved.

The bodies of the sisters were found by their nephew Mazlan Yunus, 52, at 9.30am. The bodies were already emiting a foul smell and infested with maggots.

Both, who were rubber tappers, were said to have died five days before their bodies were found.

Meanwhile, the victims' brother Elias Yacob, 55, said they had asked him to live with them but had declined because of failing health and instead opted to live with his children in Kuala Lumpur.

"I was worried about their safety and had asked them to move to my house in Jelapang in Ipoh but they refused. They preferred to stay at our ancestral home and look after the smallholding," he said, adding that he wanted to see justice done over the cruel killing of his sisters.

The remains of the siblings were buried next to the graves of their parentsat the Pulau Meranti Muslim Cemetery here.