BUTTERWORTH: A 29-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the rape and death of a woman at her double-storey house in Taman Seruling Emas, Sungai Jawi here on Saturday (Aug 28).

       The man is believed to have gained access into the 40-year-old victim’s house after climbing over the fence and entering through a window.

       South Seberang Prai OCPD Supt Lee Chong Chern said the incident occurred at around 3am after the suspect took syabu with a friend and borrowed his motorcycle for a ride.

       “The suspect then rode the motorcycle to the back lane of the victim’s house and broke into her house through a window.

       “He found her asleep in bed and raped her," he said, adding that the victim is believed to have fought back and screamed only for the suspect to gag her with her undergarments.

       “After a while the victim did not move and is believed to have died but the suspect continued raping her,” he told the media on Sunday (Aug 29).

       Supt Lee said the suspect then dragged the victim's body to the floor and hid it under the bed.

       “After rummaging through her house, the suspect made off with a mobile phone, some cash and the victim’s locket.

       “He left the house at around 2pm and returned the motorcycle to his friend before walking back to his house in Taman Seruling Emas.

       “At around 7pm, the suspect went into hiding at Changkat Sungai Jawi and threw the victim’s belongings into a river in the Changkat area," Supt Lee added.

       He added that the suspect was arrested there and a motorcycle, T-shirt, underwear and a slipper were confiscated.

       A forensics team is still conducting an investigation at the scene and has taken about 25 samples, he added.

       “The victim’s body will be sent for a post-mortem after the results of a Covid-19 test are obtained," Supt Lee said.