JOHOR BARU: A 41-year-old man suspected of murdering a Felda settler was arrested at an oil palm plantation in Kota Tinggi today.
Johor police chief Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad said the man was arrested at 10.26am following intelligence gathered by police.
Police seized an axe and a motorcycle believed to be linked to the case.
He said a team from the Johor police contingent headquarters' D9 Criminal Investigation Department and Kota Tinggi district police headquarters' Criminal Investigation Division carried out the arrest.
"Checks found that the suspect has six previous criminal records involving criminal and drug-related offences," he said in a statement today.
Ab Rahaman said the suspect would be brought to the Pengerang Magistrate's Court tomorrow to obtain a remand order under Section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code to assist investigations under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.
"The actual cause and motive of the incident are still under investigation," he said.
Police received an emergency call about the incident at 7.56pm yesterday, he said.
A member of the public had reported finding a 68-year-old local man lying by the roadside in the Felda area, covered in blood.
Preliminary investigations at the scene found that the victim had wounds to his head and both arms.
He was later pronounced dead by a medical officer from the Bukit Waha health clinic in Kota Tinggi.
Ab Rahaman advised the public against speculating or making comments that could interfere with the investigation.
He also urged anyone with information about the case or other criminal activities to contact the nearest police station, the Johor police hotline at 019-2792095 or the Johor contingent police operations room at 07-2212999.
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