Police have extended the remand of two suspects to facilitate ongoing investigations into the murder of a 22-year-old man at an apartment unit along Jalan Sungai Tapang. The decision was reached after the police applied for an extension under Section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
Magistrate Nursyaheeqa Nazwa Radzali approved the application, with the new remand period commencing on December 28 and ending January 1. Prior to this, the suspects had been in remand since December 21 after being arrested on December 20.
The suspects were escorted to the Kuching Courthouse under police guard, drawing public attention as their case continues to unfold. The extension is expected to provide investigators sufficient time to complete several pending procedures related to the investigation.
The case centres around the murder of Francis Chang Ze, who was discovered with fatal slash wounds in his apartment room following an incident believed to involve an unlawful assembly. The crime was reported to have taken place at around 4.30am on December 1, 2024.
Earlier this year, a bodyguard named Lu Chieng Kiong was charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code read together with Section 149 for alleged involvement in the incident. He was accused of being part of a group of 12 individuals, including 11 others still being traced by the police. However, Lu was subsequently released on October 31.
Investigators are now working to determine the full chain of events leading to the victim’s death, including identifying all suspects and confirming their roles. The extension will also allow authorities to obtain additional forensic reports and witness statements believed to be crucial to the case.
Police have appealed to the public to allow due process to take place and avoid spreading unverified information. They assured that all efforts are being made to ensure justice is served and that community safety remains a priority.
Further statements are expected once progress is made. For now, the case continues under active investigation with authorities confident that the extended remand will aid in strengthening their findings.
