She went back for her belongings — and never came out: Police suspect foul play in fatal Segamat fire
Police said the fire is believed to have started around 4.15am on July 25 at a garage connected to one of the homes along Jalan Francis Khoo.
A local man living in the first affected house spotted flames and quickly alerted his family members to evacuate.
However, the witness's mother-in-law re-entered the house to retrieve some belongings and did not exit again, believed to have been trapped inside, said district police chief Supt Ahmad Zamry Marinsah.
The fire also destroyed two cars and two motorcycles before firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control at around 8am.
'Police investigations indicate there may be elements of foul play. However, further investigations are still underway to determine the exact cause of the incident,' said Ahmad Zamry.
'We urge anyone with information to come forward to assist in the investigation,' he said, adding that the public can contact the Segamat police hotline at 07-9324222.
Police are investigating the case under Sections 304A of the Penal Code for causing death by negligence and Section 436 for arson, which carry punishments of up to 20 years in prison and a fine upon conviction.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Free Malaysia Today
42 minutes ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Key prosecution witness to apply for protection after assault
G Gnanaraja was reported to have suffered injuries to his face and hand after being attacked by 10 men at his home. PETALING JAYA : A key prosecution witness in former Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng's corruption trial will apply for official protection under the witness protection programme after he was attacked by 10 men yesterday. G Gnanaraja's lawyer RT Rajasekaran said a formal letter would be submitted to the police requesting protection pending a full investigation into the incident, Bernama reported. Rajasekaran said he was concerned that the assault might be linked to his client's role as a key prosecution witness in the ongoing corruption trial. 'We trust the police will conduct their investigation professionally, and we urge the public to refrain from speculation or drawing premature conclusions until the probe is completed,' he was quoted as saying. Yesterday, the New Straits Times reported that Gnanaraja suffered injuries to his face and hand after being attacked by 10 men at his home. The assailants were said to have tied up two security guards before entering his house. Separately, Gnanaraja appealed to the police for protection for his family, citing threats made during the 6.30am attack, which saw a group of masked individuals armed with machetes break into his home. 'One of them swung a machete towards my mouth and hand, while warning me not to speak out or 'play the hero'. They also fled with several personal belongings,' he said. Gnanaraja later sought treatment at a private hospital, and required five stitches to his left hand. Gnanaraja's wife, G Geethanjali, said she and her family are now living in fear following the incident and appealed for police protection. When asked about items that had been reported as missing, Geethanjali declined to comment, citing the ongoing police investigation. She also confirmed that she had just completed giving her statement to the authorities. 'A lot happened yesterday, but I'm unable to disclose details at this stage as it may interfere with the investigation,' she told reporters during a press conference at the Kuala Lumpur court complex today. Earlier today, Lim's lawyers criticised recent media reports and prosecutorial remarks that allegedly linked the DAP adviser to the assault on the witness. In a statement, law firm Haijan Omar & Co, acting on behalf of the Bagan MP, condemned what they described as 'premature and misleading' speculation surrounding the incident. They also urged the media to refrain from reporting unverified claims about the assault, warning that such reports risk undermining the judicial process and Lim's presumption of innocence.
Free Malaysia Today
43 minutes ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Lawyers urge prosecutors, media not to link Guan Eng to witness's assault
Lim Guan Eng's lawyers said the DAP adviser remains confident in the judicial process and is fully committed to defending himself through lawful means to prove his innocence. PETALING JAYA : DAP adviser Lim Guan Eng's lawyers have criticised recent media reports and prosecutorial remarks that allegedly link him to the assault of a key prosecution witness in his ongoing graft trial. In a statement issued today, law firm Haijan Omar & Co, acting on behalf of the Bagan MP, condemned what they described as 'premature and misleading' speculation surrounding the incident. They also urged the media to refrain from reporting unverified claims about the assault, warning that such reports risk undermining the judicial process and Lim's presumption of innocence. 'The insinuation of any connection between the incident and our client – echoed by remarks from the lead prosecutor – is baseless, unfair and prejudicial,' the statement read. Yesterday, a prosecution witness in Lim's trial was reportedly attacked by 10 unidentified individuals at his home near here. According to Malaysiakini, lead prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin said he was awaiting instructions from MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki on the next course of action, including whether to seek court protection for the witness. While Lim's legal team acknowledged the need for protective measures in cases where safety was a genuine concern, they emphasised that such action should not be based on 'speculative and tendentious assumptions' that unfairly associate their client with the assault. The lawyers also took issue with Wan Shaharuddin's statement, suggesting it was made while a police investigation was ongoing and without full knowledge of the facts. They said it was unclear whether Wan Shaharuddin had sought clarification from the police regarding the motive behind the incident prior to making his remarks. The lawyers cited a clarification by Petaling Jaya police chief Shahrulnizam Ja'afar, who confirmed that the case was a 'clear-cut robbery' with no element of witness tampering. 'We welcome the swift clarification by the police confirming that the incident was an armed robbery, wholly unrelated to the trial,' the statement added. Lim's legal team said they intend to raise the 'prosecutorial impropriety' in court when the trial resumes at the Kuala Lumpur sessions court on Aug 19. The lawyers said their client has confidence in the judicial process and is fully committed to defending himself through lawful means in order to prove his innocence against all 'baseless charges'. Lim is charged with using his position as then Penang chief minister to ask a businessman for a 10% cut of the profits from the undersea tunnel project and accepting RM3.3 million in kickbacks. He is also accused of two counts of dishonestly misappropriating RM208.7 million worth of state land.
Free Malaysia Today
2 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Boy, 12, falls into flooded quarry while fishing in Baling
The fire department received a call about the incident at 4.30pm and deployed a team of six officers and personnel to the location in Taman Mesra Ria, Kupang, near Baling. (JBPM pic) PETALING JAYA : A Year Six pupil was found drowned after falling into a flooded sand quarry while fishing with two friends in Taman Mesra Ria, Kupang, near Baling, today. Baling fire and rescue station chief Zulkhairi Mat Tanjil, said the victim was identified as Farish Syazwi Sukri, 12, Bernama reported. 'The fire department received a call about the incident at 4.30pm and deployed a team of six officers and personnel to the location.' Zulkhairi said the boy's body was found after a two-hour search, about 3km from where he was believed to have fallen. 'The victim's body was discovered at 6.25pm by his uncle, who was part of the search team,' he said.
