Trio in Perlis family committed suicide owing to financial woes, say cops

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 19): The three from among a family who were found dead in the Kampung Belat Batu River in Arau in Perlis yesterday are believed to have taken their own lives owing to financial problems, reported the Malay Mail today.

The bodies of a 66-year-old father, a 64-year-old mother and their 35-year-old daughter were recovered by Fire and Rescue department personnel yesterday, reported the daily.

The Perlis police said that they have arrested the son, 37, at Taman Ria Jaya in Sungai Petani, Kedah at 10pm last night.

He has revealed to the police that he was also supposed to have committed suicide with his family members but decided against it in the end.

“The son told police that he and his family members had come to Arau from Sungai Petani by train.

“They had decided to take their own lives as they were unable to settle their debts.

“They drank poison and jumped into the river. The son, however, decided against it out of fear, after seeing his family members drowning,” Perlis police chief SAC Noor Mushar Mohd said in a statement today, reported the English daily.

The son then went back to Sungai Petani.

“We arrested him after receiving a tip-off on his whereabouts.”