Tapah murders: Mechanic and son released

A mechanic and his son who were remanded since last year to facilitate in the investigation of murder cases in Jalan Pahang, Tapah, were released today.

Sessions Court Judge Murtazadi Amran made the decision after their maximum 59-day remand period under Section 4 (1)(a) of the Prevention of Crime Act 1959 ended today.

The judge, however, ordered for electronic monitoring devices to be tagged on them for a maximum period of 59 days from today.

The father and son, aged 57 and 20, were then taken to Tapah Police headquarters for release.

Earlier, deputy public prosecutor Harris Ong Mohd Jeffery Ong asked the court to release the duo according to Section 7(1)(b) of POCA and to tag the devices on them according to 7(2) of the same Act.

Speaking to reporters, Harris Ong said the father and son were released as the investigation could not be completed during their remand period, but both of them were still due to be registered under Section 12 (2) of POCA 1959.

He said during the 59-day monitoring period, the Crime Prevention Board would decide whether the duo would be released or detained at any detention centre for a period of two years or to be granted restrictions on bail for five years.

Besides, the mechanic and his son must also adhere to 10 other conditions, including to report themselves to the nearest police station and to inform the court of any change of address, failure of which would be an offence under subsection 7A (6) of POCA 1959, he said.

On Oct 26, 2015, the police detained four suspects at about 1.30 pm at a house in the vicinity of a vehicle workshop area off Jalan Pahang in Tapah, following a report of a missing 46-year-old property agent in Kampung Sungai Lah, Chenderiang near here.

Two other suspects - the mechanic's wife and another son - who were previously remanded were released without conditions on Dec 2 as they were not linked to the case.