Grief-Stricken Son of Retired Officer Decries ‘Brutal Act’

JITRA: The case of Sabari Baharom, a retired officer from Felcra, has taken a dark turn as his son revealed his connection to one of the alleged murderers. Sabari’s remains are thought to have been discarded into the Sungai Padang Terap, causing a wave of outrage throughout the community.

Muhammad Amir Hakimi Sabari, 25, labeled the incident as a “brutal act,” expressing his disbelief at the actions of the suspect he recognized. This contractor had been working on a neighbor’s home for the last five months, and Muhammad Amir felt compelled to bring attention to this shocking revelation.

“I know him, and what he did is incredibly cruel and unacceptable,” he told reporters on Monday, September 30, while at the site in Sungai Padang Terap, seeking updates from the police on the search for his father’s body.

He shared that his father frequently interacted with one of the suspects, often exchanging greetings and having brief chats as he passed by the construction site. “The suspect is not local; he is an outsider, and my father was always friendly towards him,” he explained.

As the youngest of three siblings, Muhammad Amir expressed the deep sorrow his family has been experiencing as they wait for news from the authorities. They are hopeful that the search efforts will soon lead to finding Sabari’s remains. “We will continue performing solat hajat until my father’s body is located. I hope that those involved in the search can find a way to locate him, especially considering the current flooding conditions,” he noted.

Previously, Kedah’s police chief Comm Datuk Fisol Salleh confirmed that Sabari, who was 62 years old, had been thrown into the river with his hands bound and mouth sealed with tape by two suspects. Despite ongoing efforts, his body has not been recovered since he was reported missing on September 4.

The investigation saw a breakthrough with the arrest of two male suspects, aged 26 and 38, from the local area last Friday, September 27. The community is still grappling with the harsh reality of this brutal crime and is looking for further updates from the police. – Bernama