Body found with slash wounds – more photos

MIRI: The body of a man found lying by the roadside had its head slashed and left ear severed.

The body lying on the ground near Sekaloh junction at Km 86, Miri-Bintulu road around 6.30am was spotted by a passer-by on the way to Batu Niah who at first thought the man was drunk.

The man got out of his car to inspect and saw blood gushing from the deceased’s head. A parang or machete was found about 20 metres away.

“I immediately informed Batu Niah Police Station,” said the man who asked to remain anonymous.

The deceased has been identified as Muhammad Azarul Mohamad Sapi’ee, 20, from Kampung Wireless, Miri.

According to his mother, who was met at Miri Hospital’s morgue, Muhammad Azarul — the second eldest of six siblings — had been working in a hardware shop in Krokop for about a week.

“Yesterday (Wednesday) Azarul was not working as he was not feeling well. Around 7pm, he borrowed his dad’s motorcycle to go out…at 8pm that night, I called Azarul to ask where he was but he did not answer my call,” said the mother.

Miri police and a police dog unit (K-9) led by Miri deputy police chief Supt Stanley Jonathan Ringgit rushed to the scene after receiving a call on the discovery around 6.50am.

“The case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder,” Stanley said when met at the scene yesterday.

It was believed Muhammad Azarul was killed by assailants at the scene as drops of blood were found starting from the main road, and heading towards the junction where the body was found.

Sources believed the assailants had pursued him from the main road to the junction.

Police are investigating the motive for the murder and how the deceased ended up there despite staying at Kampung Wireless in Miri – about 86 km from Sekaloh, Batu Niah.

The body has been brought to Miri Hospital for a post-mortem.