GEORGE TOWN: An information technology manager from Ireland was found dead in his condominium unit at Bangunan MBF along Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah here this evening.
Police said they believe the motive behind his murder was revenge, based on a handwritten note they found near the victim, which read: “I respected the Police & Still Do But Justice Sometimes has to be Gained. I Hate you Mafia Kiling Scamers (sic), I Love My Girl”.
Northeast district police chief Assistant Commissioner Che Zaimani Che Awang said the victim has been identified as Brian Patrick O’Reilly, 50, who is stationed here by Singapore-based company First Lookout Marketing.
He said O’Reilly’s remains were discovered by a property agent, who was employed by the company to provide accommodation for its employees, after he failed to contact the deceased.
The property agent had wanted the keys to the deceased’s office, situated next door, to repair the air conditioning unit there.
“The property agent had contacted the deceased on Saturday to get the keys from him in but to no avail.
“When he failed to reach the deceased, the property agent, along with a representative from the condominium management, had gone to his unit.
“As soon as they knocked on the door, a fair-skinned man walked out, informing them the deceased was unwell and all appointments had to be cancelled,” he said.
Che Zaimani said the property agent again contacted the deceased today but was unsuccessful.
He then called the deceased’s company in Singapore to ask for the keys, and upon the advice of the company, took a locksmith there to break open the door to the condominium.
“As soon as he walked into the unit, he found the deceased's body sprawled in the master bedroom, soaked in blood.
“He immediately lodged a police report,” Che Zaimani said, adding that the deceased had just moved into the unit about a month ago.
Che Zaimani said checks on the closed circuit television camera (CCTV) in the lobby of the condominium showed four men, including the deceased, entering a lift to his unit on level 12 on Friday evening.
Several minutes later, all four left the building.
“Early on Saturday, a man had registered himself to go up to the deceased’s unit.
“And around noon the same day, a man, carrying a suitcase and believed to be the suspect, left the building in an Audi.
“The deceased is believed to have been dead for less than 24 hours before he was found,” he said, adding that checks showed that his hands were bound with a shoestring. His legs were bound with a piece of cloth.
Che Zaimani said the deceased is believed to have been hit with a pot and frying pan, stabbed in his stomach and slashed on his neck.
The case is investigated for murder under Section 302 of the Penal Code.
A post-mortem to ascertain his cause of death will be conducted tomorrow (Tuesday).