KEPONG: Police have dispelled rumours insinuating that the murder of a man found beaten to death in a stairwell of a shopping mall here was a crime of passion, and believe it is drug-related.
The victim, 53-year-old Foo Yong Eng, was found dead on Tuesday on the fifth floor stairwell of the mall.
Surveillance camera footage showed Foo parking his vehicle at the mall at around 6am Tuesday and was seen entering a karaoke outlet with an unknown woman.
Half an hour later, cameras caught a group of men leading Foo into the stairwell, where he was later found dead.
Sentul OCPD Asst Comm R. Munusamy (pic) dismissed allegations that Foo was killed over an affair with the unknown woman.
"It was coincidence that she was with him at the time of the incident. Jealousy was not the motive behind Foo's murder.
"The suspects and Foo knew each other. We are still investigating possible motives for the crime," he told reporters at the district headquarters here on Friday.
Two men, aged 23 and 28, have been arrested in Jinjang on Tuesday and Wednesday in connection with the fatal assault on Foo.
ACP Munusamy said police have identified between five to eight men who could have a hand in Foo's murder, which was believed to have been fuelled by a drug dispute.
"We need these individuals to facilitate investigations into the case and will release their details if necessary," he noted.
When asked if the woman seen with Foo would also be picked up for investigations, ACP Munusamy said police were still looking for her.
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