The following is a chronology of events beginning from the date of 62-year-old retired Felcra financial officer Sabari Baharom's disappearance in early September until two main suspects confessed to police that they had murdered him by throwing him into Sungai Padang Terap with his hands bound and his mouth taped.
Sept 4:
Two men broke into Sabari's home in Kampung Mengkuang Tengah, Kuala Pegang in Baling, Kedah, in the early morning and kidnapped the victim. His Proton Waja was missing from his house. The father of three was living alone there.
His children started searching for their father after failing to contact him on his mobile phone the same day.
Sept 4 and 5:
Police obtained a closed-circuit television camera recording of a local woman withdrawing money from an automated teller machine in Bayan Lepas, Penang.
Sept 20:
Sabari's son was informed of the discovery of the victim's charred car in Belantik, Sik, about 60km from his home.
Sept 27:
Police arrested two local men, aged 26 and 38, to assist the investigation. The suspects, who are contractors from Jitra, Kubang Pasu, confessed to police that they had thrown the victim into Sungai Padang Terap with his hands bound and his mouth taped.
Sept 30:
Villagers at Kampung Empa, Wang Tepus, in Kubang Pasu saw a man in handcuffs leading police to a spot on the Sungai Padang Terap riverbank where the suspects threw the victim. A search operation involving police, Fire and Rescue Department and Civil Defence Force was mounted to locate the victim's body
.
Oct 1:
The search operation is expanded to a 12.8km radius along Sungai Padang Terap.
Oct 3:
Police call off a three-day operation in Sungai Padang Terap after search efforts proved in vain.
Oct 12:
Sungai Petani magistrate's court granted Sik district police a week-long remand order against the two suspects for investigation into Sabari's murder.
Oct 17:
The two suspects are charged with Sabari's murder at the Kubang Pasu magistrate's court.