MUAR: Police are searching for a 48-year-old man to assist with an investigation following the deaths of an elderly couple and their 11-year-old granddaughter in a house fire at Kampung Paya Redan in Pagoh.
Muar OCPD Asst Comm Raiz Mukhliz Azman Aziz said the case has been reclassified from Sudden Death Report to Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.
"We have found signs of criminal intent based on our investigation at the location and the postmortem report on the three victims.
"The case is now investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code; it is also investigated under Section 436 of the Penal Code for committing mischief by fire, and Section 326 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing grievous harm," he said in a statement on Saturday (Aug 10).
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The suspect, identified as Azman Mohamed Nor, is the son of the elderly couple and was also living in the same house as the victims who perished in the fire.
"Those who have information on the whereabouts of the suspect are encouraged to call the Muar IPD Hotline at 06-9564800 or any nearest police station," he added.
Earlier, an elderly couple and their 11-year-old granddaughter died in a house fire at Kampung Paya Redan in Pagoh, while their other grandchild sustained head injuries.
ACP Raiz Mukhliz said a witness told police the incident occurred at 1.30am on Friday (Aug 9).
"The victims are identified as Mohamed Nor Mohamed Yassin, 82, Ara Abdul Hamid, 76, and their 11-year-old granddaughter.
"They were pronounced dead at the scene," he said, adding that a 14-year-old girl in the house suffered a head injury and is being treated at the Sultanah Fatimah Specialist Hospital.