Published: Wednesday September 22, 2010 MYT 9:12:00 PM
Updated: Wednesday September 22, 2010 MYT 9:56:34 PM
KUALA LUMPUR: Police have reclassified the case of Indian businessman A. Muthuraja, who was reported missing in Malaysia, as murder.
"Based on the indicators and evidence gathered, we have upgraded the investigation from one of missing person to murder," Selangor police chief Deputy Commissioner Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar said Wednesday.
He said police were now investigating the case of Muthuraja, 34, who had arrived in Malaysia on Jan 18, under Section 302 of the Penal Code.
The disappearance of Muthuraja has been linked to suspects in the murder of cosmetics millionaire Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya and three other people in Ladang Gadong near Banting, Selangor.
Sosilawati, 47, her driver Kamaruddin Shamsudin, 44, lawyer Ahmad Kamil Abdul Karim, 32, and CIMB Bank officer Noorhisham Mohammad, 38, were killed, their bodies burnt and the ashes thrown into rivers in the vicinity of Ladang Gadong after they went missing on Aug 30 following a trip to Banting over a land deal.
Police have picked up eight suspects, among them two lawyers.
Muthuraja's wife, S. Usharani, 24, had lodged a report at the Banting police station on Sept 8 claiming that her husband had disappeared after having met the lawyers upon his arrival at the KL International Airport on Jan 18. Earlier in the day, Usharani, who had flown in from India, met the police in Banting over the disappearance of her husband. She had also gone to have a look at the farm in Ladang Gadong belonging to a suspect in the murder of Sosilawati and three men. She was accompanied by Kapar MP S. Manikavasagam.
Manikavasagam and Usharani, who came to the farm at 11.35am, were not allowed to enter the premises by policemen guarding the main entrance.
When approached by reporters, Manikavasagam said he hoped that Muthuraja's family members, especially his father and siblings, would come to Malaysia next week to assist police in verifying the DNA of Muthuraja.
Manikavasagam said that when he accompanied Usharani to a meeting with Kuala Langat district police deputy chief DSP Rizani Ismail, he was informed that police had recovered 300 pieces of bone fragments during the investigation into the murder of Sosilawati and the three men.
News reports had said that the bone fragments were recovered from Sungai Panchau. Manikavasagam took Usharani to Sungai Panchau and Sungai Kanchong Laut located about one and two kilometres, respectively, from Ladang Gadong. He said Usharani was brought to the three places and to meet with the police to learn of the developments in the investigation into the disappearance of her husband. He also said that Usharani had expressed the intention to remain in Malaysia for a week and that the place of her stay was being kept confidential for her safety. - Bernama
