A 19-YEAR-OLD foreign man has been arrested in connection with the brutal killing of a 37-year-old woman, who was found with 14 stab wounds in a hotel room in Taman Maju Jaya, Johor Bahru, on Tuesday.
Deputy Police Chief of Johor, Deputy Commissioner Hoo Chuan Huat, said the suspect was apprehended within 24 hours of the incident following a coordinated operation by the Johor Contingent Police Headquarters’ Criminal Investigation Department and the Johor Bahru Selatan District Police Headquarters.
“Several items believed to be linked to the incident were also seized, including a T-shirt, a pair of jeans, a black cap, a pair of rubber shoes, a closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance hard drive, and two mobile phones,” he said.
Hoo added that the suspect has no previous criminal record and that preliminary urine tests returned negative for drugs.
The suspect was brought before the Johor Bahru Magistrate’s Court, where a seven-day remand order under Section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code was granted until 18 March to allow further investigations. Authorities are pursuing charges under Section 302 of the Penal Code.
“The public is advised not to make any speculation or comments that could interfere with the investigation process.
“Police welcome the cooperation of the public to continue providing any information related to crime to the nearest police station, the Johor police hotline at 019-2792095, or the operations room of the Johor Contingent Police Headquarters (IPK) at 07-2212999,” he said.
Initial reports suggest the victim likely died between 1.30am and 4.30am.
The woman had 11 stab wounds to her chest, along with additional injuries to her neck, right index finger, and right arm.
Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack, emphasising that no further details will be released to avoid jeopardising the ongoing probe. – March 12, 2026
