JITRA: The devastating case surrounding Sabari Baharom, a retired Felcra officer, has taken a dire turn as his son disclosed a personal connection to one of the suspects accused of his father’s murder. Sabari’s body is suspected to have been discarded in the Sungai Padang Terap, prompting outrage and disbelief among the locals.
Muhammad Amir Hakimi Sabari, 25, characterized the murder as “appalling,” voicing his shock regarding the actions of the suspect he recognized. This contractor had been engaged in work on a neighbor’s house directly across from his father’s home for the past five months.
“I know this individual, and what he has done is thoroughly disgraceful and cruel,” Muhammad Amir informed reporters on Monday, September 30. He was present at the site near Sungai Padang Terap, seeking updates from the police on the ongoing search for his father’s remains.
He explained that his father often encountered the suspect while passing by the construction site, where they would exchange friendly greetings and engage in short conversations. “The suspect is an outsider, not from our village, and my father was always cordial towards him,” he shared.
As the youngest of three siblings, Muhammad Amir expressed the intense sorrow that has gripped his family as they await news from the authorities. They remain hopeful that search efforts will soon lead to the discovery of Sabari’s body. “We will continue to perform solat hajat until my father’s body is located. I sincerely hope that those involved in the search will find a way to locate him, especially with the flooding conditions we are currently facing,” he remarked.
Earlier, Kedah police chief Comm Datuk Fisol Salleh confirmed that Sabari, aged 62, had been thrown into the river, his hands bound and mouth sealed with adhesive tape by two suspects. Unfortunately, the search for his body has not yet yielded results since he was reported missing on September 4.
The investigation progressed with the arrest of two male suspects from the local area, aged 26 and 38, on Friday, September 27. The community remains in shock over the brutality of this crime and is awaiting further updates from law enforcement. – Bernama
