Sandakan police detain 10 suspects in elderly woman's murder

Police in Sandakan have detained 10 individuals following the discovery of a 62-year-old woman's body in a two-story wooden house on Jalan Leila. The victim was found in a decomposing state inside a toilet with her hands tied behind her back and her head covered with cloth.

Sandakan District Police Chief, Assistant Commissioner George Abd Rakman, stated that the discovery was made after members of the public reported a foul odor emanating from the residence. The victim reportedly lived alone in the house.

The 10 detainees, aged between 10 and 39, include five men and five women. Among them are seven locals and three Philippine nationals, all of whom are reportedly related to one another. Two individuals have been identified as primary suspects.

Investigators believe the motive for the killing stems from disputes regarding payment for home renovation work and dissatisfaction over an increase in the monthly rent for the house occupied by the suspects. Police seized a wooden stick believed to be the murder weapon and several items belonging to the victim that had been taken.