GEORGE TOWN: Police have detained three people, including a woman, to assist investigations into the murder of an economy rice seller who was stabbed 27 times.
Acting northeast district police chief Superintendent V. Saravanan said the trio, aged between 29 and 42, were picked up around Jelutong about 7.30pm yesterday, about an hour after the attack.
"We have detained three people to assist in investigations into the case. The three are close friends of the victim.
"We obtained a three-day remand against the trio this morning," he said today.
Saravanan said police have yet to establish the motive of the murder.
It was reported that a senior citizen died after he was stabbed at least 27 times all over his body at the parking lot of his apartment in Jalan Perak here yesterday.
The victim, in his 60s, was sent to the Penang Hospital in an ambulance but died while at the hospital.
Based on the initial investigation, the suspects are believed to be two men on a motorcycle who had entered the apartment's parking lot before one of them stabbed the victim repeatedly.
Police had obtained the closed circuit television (CCTV) recording at the scene as well as the guard post.
Police believe it had nothing to do with robbery as the victim's belongings were still intact.
"The suspects' action is seen as wanting to kill the senior citizen," Saravanan was quoted as saying at the scene yesterday.
The case is probed under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.