IGP says Sosilawati probe considered solved

Policemen leading one of those arresteed in the murder case.

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 15 — The police and the Attorney-General’s Chambers have begun preparing charges against the seven suspects detained for the murder of cosmetics millionaire Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya and her three companions.

Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Ismail Omar said today he considered the case solved and commended CID Director Datuk Seri Mohd Bakri Zinin, his deputy Datuk Hadi Ho Abdullah and police detectives involved in apprehending the suspects, The Star reported in its online edition.

However, he cautioned the press not to speculate that something was wrong if charges are not brought against the suspects soon as the police wanted to first make sure that the case was airtight.

A Datuk and his brother — both believed to be lawyers — and five others have been arrested in connection with the case following the discovery of four charred bodies at a poultry farm in Tanjung Sepat, Morib.

The bodies are believed to be Sosilawati, 47, her driver Kamaruddin Shamsudin, 44, CIMB Kampung Baru officer Noorhisham Mohammad, 38, and lawyer Ahmad Kamil Abdul Karim, 32, who were reported missing since August 30 after going to Banting, Selangor, for a land purchase matter.

Bakri said over the weekend that police were still trying to obtain forensic confirmation to identify the dead, revealing that the four were set ablaze and their ashes scattered into a river near Ladang Gadong in Tanjung Sepat near here.

The suspects, aged between 19 and 41, are being held at the Bukit Jalil police lockup in Kuala Lumpur, Bakri revealed. It was learnt that police have obtained seven-day remand orders to facilitate investigations into the case.

Ismail also said that the police had formed a task force to investigate all missing persons linked to the lawyers, said to number between four and 17, based on statements given by the suspects.

He added that all missing person reports must be investigated immediately and thoroughly to avoid similar incidents in future, and admitted that Sosilawati’s death could have been prevented if fast action had been taken.

“I have already instructed my men that there should be no more slacking. Those caught slacking or ignoring missing persons reports will be severely reprimanded,” he said

courtesy of Malaysian Insider