Day 9: Malaysia on Headlines (Sept 17)

Town in shock over murder of kidnapped girl
By : Jassmine Shadiqe

KULAI JAYA: The sleepy neighbourhood of Taman Putri here was reeling from shock yesterday following the discovery of the partially- charred body of a 16-year-old schoolgirl in a clearing.

Residents reacted in horror when it was learnt that the victim, Lai Ying Xin, was kidnapped on Thursday and was believed to have been murdered even before the ransom of RM60,000 was paid.

Police were led to the body yesterday about 1am by four suspects, between the ages of 16 and 22. One of the suspects is believed to have been the victim's boyfriend.

Marked bills amounting to RM20,000, believed to be part of the ransom, were also found on the suspects.

Police believe the suspects went ahead and demanded the ransom even after the victim was murdered and her body burnt. She is believed to have been murdered within 24 hours of the abduction.

She is believed to have been murdered elsewhere before her body was dumped in Taman Putri.

Lai, a student of Sekolah Menengah Kulai, who also worked part-time in a hypermarket, is believed to have been kidnapped while she was on her way home.

Police said she was bundled into a Perodua Kembara by the suspects. Police had also seized the vehicle from one of the suspects currently in custody.

State police deputy chief Datuk Tun Hisan Tun Hamzah said Lai was probably killed as she knew one of the kidnappers.

"The kidnappers were afraid the victim would point them out once she was released after the ransom was paid," said Tun Hisan.

He said the victim's mother had received a call demanding a ransom on Friday evening.

"Lai usually returned home by 9pm but when there was no sign of her on Thursday night, the family lodged a missing person's report," he said.

After negotiations, the sum of RM60,000 was agreed upon as the ransom. The money, which was in a sports bag, was dropped off at secluded spot in a housing area in Kulai at 3am on Monday.

Police made a breakthrough in the investigations on Monday evening, which led them to the arrest of a 16-year-old school dropout and two men in their 20s who were seen driving in the area in a Perodua Kembara.

Part of the ransom money was found on the suspects.

In follow-up operations, police picked up another 16-year-old in Taman Putri.

All four suspects have been remanded until Sept 21 to facilitate investigations. They had led police to a secluded road in Taman Putri, where the body was found.

The body was sent to Sultanah Aminah Hospital for a post-mortem.