IPOH: Police have reclassified the case of an elderly man found dead at the entrance of a supermarket in Klebang here last Friday as manslaughter.
Ipoh police chief Assistant Commissioner Abang Zainal Abidin Abang Ahmad said the case, initially investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder, has now been changed to Section 304A of the Penal Code for causing death without intent.
He said that the reclassification is based on the physical assault by the suspect on the 64-year-old victim, who also had a heart condition.
"We can't connect the cause of death directly to a heart attack, but we are focusing on the physical assault inflicted on the deceased.
"Based on the autopsy, in medical terms, the exact cause of death couldn't be pinpointed.
"So, for evidence purposes, we need to proceed (and change) the investigation to Section 304A of the Penal Code," he said at a press conference here on Oct 30.
Abang Zainal Abidin added that, besides the 24-year-old female suspect detained shortly after the incident, they are actively searching for a male suspect to assist in the investigation.
"The first suspect reportedly slapped the victim, while the second suspect struck the back of the victim's head while he was wearing a helmet.
"According to information, the first suspect had only met the man (second suspect) two days before the incident," he said.
He added that the motive stemmed from a dispute after the victim was alleged to have frequently harassed the female suspect.
"The victim had allegedly visited the supermarket several times to approach the female suspect, leading to the suspect's dissatisfaction and eventually triggering the incident."