By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, July 17: The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) Sub-Aquatic Forensic Investigation Unit discovered a smartphone today during an operation to gather evidence in the murder case of Sarawakian Nur Farah Kartini Abdullah in a ditch at an oil palm plantation in Kampung Sri Kledang, Hulu Selangor.
According to Bernama in a news report, the police found the smartphone at 12.21pm after about an hour of searching.
Earlier, the police and the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba Malaysia) arrived at the scene around 9.50am to begin identifying several pieces of evidence.
Members of Bomba Kuala Kubu Bharu, assisted by the Felda Gedangsa Volunteer Fire Brigade, were seen pumping out water from the ditch before the police Sub-Aquatic Forensic Investigation Unit began their underwater search.
The suspect in the murder of the 25-year-old woman, who was a former student of Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), was also brought to the scene today to indicate the area around the ditch for about five minutes.
So far, a total of 26 witnesses have provided statements to assist in the investigation of the murder case.
Selangor Police Chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan stated that the witnesses include friends of the late Nur Farah Kartina, the suspect’s colleagues, and public witnesses.
“We currently believe that the arrested suspect is the sole individual involved in this case,” he told reporters after observing the search operation, which also involved the K9 Detection Unit and the CSI Forensic Unit.
While the K9 unit continues its search at the scene, the Sub-Aquatic Forensic Investigation Unit had been redirected to another location in Perak, about 20 minutes away.
Regarding the motive for the incident, Hussein reiterated that the victim and the suspect knew each other, but the full extent of their relationship is still under investigation to determine the true motive for the murder.
The suspect, a 26-year-old police officer in Perak, is currently remanded until July 22 to assist in the investigation under Section 302 of the Penal Code, with possible of extension. He has been suspended from duty.
The body of Nur Farah Kartini, originally from Miri, was found in an oil palm plantation area in Kampung Sri Kledang at around 6pm on Monday (July 15). The victim, who was working at a car rental company at Tanjung Malim, was reported missing after delivering a rental car to a customer on July 10.
Hussein also mentioned that the autopsy report of the victim has not yet been received, and they are still awaiting results from the hospital and laboratory.
The victim’s body remains at the Sungai Buloh Hospital Forensics Unit, where DNA matching tests by the Chemistry Department are needed, as visual identification is not possible.
“The victim’s body will be handed over to the family depending on the DNA matching results conducted by the Chemistry Department through the victim’s mother and siblings.
“I don’t expect the body to be released today, it may take a few more days. We will request the Chemistry Department to expedite the process,” he added. — DayakDaily
