Just when it seemed that the case surrounding the murder of a 25-year-old Malaysian man in Johor Bahru had settled, new details have emerged.
The police have uncovered new findings suggesting a possible twist.
According to The Straits Times, the Johor police said on Wednesday (1 November) that jealousy might be the underlying motive linking the two Singaporean suspects to the crime.
The 29-year-old suspect was charged with driving under the influence of drugs and was granted bail on Monday.
Both men are also facing drug-related charges, as reported by China Press.
JB Stabbing Incident Caused the Death of 25YO Malaysian
Are you confused about the possible connections in the case? Why would jealousy be a possible motive for the case?
Well, let’s delve deeper. Remember the involvement of a Malaysian woman among the three suspects?
If not, here’s a brief overview of what happened that night.
On 27 October, at around 3am, 25-year-old Malaysian man, Xie Zhiyu, was attacked outside a karaoke nightclub in Taman Sentosa, Johor Bahru.
Later that morning, the Malaysian police found a “suspicious” Singapore-registered Audi sedan and managed to trace the suspects.
The driver, a Singaporean, was accompanied by another Singaporean man and a Malaysian woman.
Their attempted escape ended dramatically when the Audi they were in collided with two vehicles and crashed into the main gate of Istana Besar, the royal palace of the Johor Sultan, around 5.30am that same day.
Upon discovering the three suspects in the car, the police took them into custody, confiscating a knife and a razor blade found at the scene.
Subsequent drug tests revealed the presence of methamphetamine in their systems.
The police now believe that the stabbing was fueled by jealousy concerning the Malaysian woman.
While not many details have been revealed from the investigations, jealousy may have been one of the more common alleged motives for murder.
The 33-year-old Malaysian woman who was in the car was detained but later released on bail on Wednesday after being designated a prosecution witness, as announced by Johor police chief Kamarul Zaman Mamat during a press conference.
This briefing, broadcasted live on Facebook, revealed that a dispute over one of the suspect’s girlfriend escalated to the tragic killing of Xie Zhiyu.
Mr Kamarul further stated that those convicted of murder could face the death penalty or, if exempted, a prison sentence ranging from 30 to 40 years.
With fresh revelations emerging daily, the case’s progression and the fate of the suspects remain subjects of intense speculation.