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SANDAKAN - A 62-year-old woman is believed to have been murdered before her decomposing body was found in the toilet of a two-storey wooden house in Tanah Merah, Jalan Leila here last Tuesday.
The incident came to light after a foul smell from the two-storey wooden house led to the discovery of the victim's decomposing body in the toilet.
Both of the victim's hands were found tied behind her back, while her head was covered with cloth and she is believed to have died several days before she was found.
Following the discovery, police detained ten individuals including two main suspects within less than 24 hours to assist investigations.
Sandakan District Police Chief Assistant Commissioner George Abd Rakman said police received information from members of the public at around 8.10pm regarding the foul smell coming from the house.
"The discovery was made after police received information from members of the public at around 8.10pm regarding the foul smell coming from the house.
"The victim's body was already decomposing when found and is believed to have died several days before that," he said in a statement.
He said investigations found the victim lived alone at the house.
He said the ten individuals detained comprised five men and five women aged between ten and 39.
Of that number, three were Filipino nationals while the remaining seven were locals and all of them had family ties to one another.
George said investigations found the motive for the incident is believed to have stemmed from a dispute over payment for renovation work done on the victim's house.
"The suspects were also believed to be unhappy after the victim raised the monthly rent for the house they were living in.
"Police also seized a piece of wood believed to have been used in the incident, along with several personal items belonging to the victim that were taken by the suspects," he said.
The case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.
