‘Father likely killed his two kids’
> Suspect had two previous criminal records, say cops
KUALA LUMPUR: The deaths of a man and his two young children at an apartment in Segambut on Monday is possibly a murdercum-suicide based on preliminary findings by police.
Police learnt that the two dead children, Cheah Kai Wen, a seven-month-old baby boy and Cheah Kai Sze, a three-year-old female toddler, who were found stuffed in large plastic containers, are believed to be victims of abuse at the hands of their own father.
The 34-year-old man who was identified as Cheah Hing Soon had two previous criminal records for drug abuse and possession and is believed to be behind the deaths of the baby and toddler.
Investigators also discovered that he was abusive towards his children, including two sons aged six and eight, who moved out to live with Cheah’s businessman father not far from their house at the Nova II apartments.
It is learnt that the boys had scars from old wounds allegedly inflicted by their jobless father who was described as being “shorttempered and easily provoked” by the slightest issues such as the wails and cries of his children.
A post-mortem conducted by the Kuala Lumpur Hospital on the victims yesterday showed that the children had died weeks earlier.
The post-mortem reports revealed that the baby boy had suffered a fractured skull from blunt trauma.
The cause of death of his father and sister is yet to be determined but it is highly likely due to poisoning.
Sentul police chief ACP R. Munusamy said blood samples of the man and his daughter have been sent for toxicology testing to ascertain how they died.
He said the close relative of the victims, who was detained to assist in the investigations, was remanded for five days yesterday.
Munusamy said police have also recorded statements from the couple’s two older sons and their grandfather and are confident of solving the case soon.
He said the two boys and their mother will also be sent for a medical examination to ascertain if they were abused.
Sources said although it is believed that the detained woman was not directly involved in the deaths, she may have been aware of it and could face court action for the non-disclosure of the events to the authorities.
At noon on Monday, police went to the apartment where they found in a room the bodies of the children in plastic containers which were packed in a garbage bag as well as Cheah’s body, sprawled on the floor in the master bedroom.