Everything We Know About The Penang Mother-Daughter Double Murder Case

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A woman and her 11-year-old adopted daughter were found brutally murdered in Kampung Sekolah Juru, Penang on Saturday, 18 October

According to the New Straits Times, their bodies were found by the woman's husband around 7.30pm.

The 57-year-old called out to neighbours for help, asking if they had seen any suspicious vehicles in the area. Police were alerted around 7.40pm.

The woman, 51-year-old Sariya Che Hin, was allegedly found in the kitchen with severe injuries, while her daughter was found upstairs, lying face down and covered in blood.

A neighbour, Ida, said she had not noticed anything suspicious at the time

Another neighbour, Ideris, said a violent crime like this had never happened in the village before.

According to him, even robberies and burglaries were not common in the area.

Medical personnel from Seberang Jaya Hospital were seen removing the victims' bodies around 1.50am.

It is understood that the couple were quiet and often kept to themselves, as both worked irregular hours

Another neighbour, who declined to be named, said the family had lived in the area for about two years, and that the girl was the husband's stepdaughter.

The man was believed to work as a security guard, while the woman previously worked in a factory canteen and sold kuih.

Sariya's brother, 60-year-old Bismi Che Hin, said the 11-year-old victim was Sariya's niece, and had been adopted since infancy.

She had also adopted another child, and had a son from a previous marriage.

He added that Sariya loved children very much, and once worked as a kindergarten teacher.

Authorities have allegedly located the weapon believed to be used in the crime

According to state police chief Datuk Azizee Ismail, the weapon was found behind the house.

He declined to give further details.

According to Penang Hospital forensic pathologist Datuk Dr Zahari Noor, both victims sustained deep slash wounds to the neck that could not have been inflicted with a normal kitchen knife.

He suggested that the murder weapon was likely a heavy, sharp weapon, possibly a meat-cutting knife.

Dr Zahari added that there were signs of defensive injuries that indicated a struggle. However, the fatal blows were dealt at the back of the neck.

He said the post-mortem indicated the killer had murdered Sariya first, before moving upstairs and attacking the daughter, who was also fatally injured with strikes to the back of the neck.

The woman's husband has been remanded for seven days to assist in the probe

However, Azizee emphasised that the husband was not a suspect.

His remand will remain in effect until 25 October.

Two more men have also been arrested under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder

According to Bernama, a seven-day remand was obtained for the men, both in their 40s, to assist with the investigation.

Theirs would run until 26 October.

It is known that one of the men is a foreigner. Both are said to be acquainted with the 51-year-old victim, and their mobile phones have been seized by police.

The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities probing not just the motive, but also whether any other suspects were involved in the crime.