BEAUFORT: The body of a foreign woman, bearing cuts and slashes on the neck and several parts of the body, was discovered in the bushes of an oil palm plantation in Kampung Ulu Bambangan, Membakut, yesterday.
The body of a 43-year-old Filipino woman was found by her family members before they reported the incident to the police around 11am.
Beaufort District Police Chief Deputy Superintendent Ismail Abdullah said that the preliminary investigation revealed that the victim was believed to have gone missing while working in the oil palm plantation where she was employed.
He mentioned that the victim's husband subsequently searched for his wife and found her black pants at his workplace, at the same oil palm plantation.
"The family members then searched for the victim around the area where her pants were found and eventually discovered her body in the nearby bushes.
"When found, there were signs of slash wounds on various parts of the victim's body," he said when contacted today.
According to Ismail, the examination and investigation by the Forensic Unit of the Sabah Police Contingent Headquarters found that the palm of the victim's right hand was almost broken.
"In addition, there were injuries on the right forehead and slash wounds on the neck, believed to be caused by a sharp weapon.
"As a result, the police have detained three men and a Filipino woman aged between 30 and 40.
"All four suspects are currently remanded to assist in the investigation," he said.
Ismail stated that efforts to locate other suspects are still underway with the assistance of the Special Investigation Unit (D9), the K9 Tracking Unit, and the Forensic Unit of IPK Sabah.
"The case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder," he said.