SUNGAI PETANI: Police have obtained a week-long remand order against a contractor and his nephew detained in connection with the murder of Felcra pensioner Sabari Baharom last month.
Magistrate Anis Suraya Ahmad granted the remand order application by Baling district police to facilitate further investigation into the murder.
Earlier, a lorry transporting the suspects with heavy police escort was seen entering the Sungai Petani Court Complex at 9.48am. The convoy left the court building about one hour later.
The suspects, who were detained on Sept 27, have been remanded by the Sik district police for investigation into the discovery of the victim's charred Proton Waja in Kampung Pulau Belantek last month.
It was reported that initially, Sabari, 62, was believed to have left his house in Kampung Mengkuang Tengah in Kupang, Baling. However, it was later established that the father of three, who was living alone, was instead abducted by the suspects in the wee hours of Sept 4, in an apparent robbery that went awry.
On Sept 20, Sabari's children were informed about the discovery of the victim's burnt-out car in Kampung Pulau Belantek, about 60 kilometres from his home.
Police obtained a breakthrough into the case after arresting a 62-year-old woman to assist in the probe after it was discovered that there were suspicious money transfers from Sabari's account following his disappearance.
On Sept 30, police reclassified the case as a murder investigation following the arrest of two prime suspects who were previously doing renovation work at Sabari's neighbour's home.
Kedah police chief Datuk Fisol Salleh reportedly said the suspects admitted to binding Sabari's hands, taping his mouth, and throwing him into Sungai Padang Terap.
Investigators believed that the victim, a retired Felcra financial officer, was abducted by the suspects after he was able to identify them when they broke into his house.
It was reported that the contractor is said to be a gambling addict. It was believed that he had used RM16,000 from the victim's bank account for gambling in Batam, Indonesia.
On Oct 3, police called off a three-day operation in Sungai Padang Terap near Kampung Empa, in Wang Tepus, Jitra, where the victim's body was dumped, after search efforts proved in vain.