ARAU: The death of the three-member family whose bodies were found in Sungai Arau here yesterday, has shocked close family members who found it difficult to believe that the family had taken their own lives by drinking poison.
Norhan Abdullah said his late aunt Norma Pin, 64, and her husband, Baharom Ahmad, 66, were pious and often attended congregational prayers at the mosque.
He said couple’s son Mohd Zali, 37, who was arrested by police in Sungai Petani, Kedah, last night, was an obedient son with learning disabilities.
"Mohd Zali is actually a person with learning disabilities. He will not even react if someone hit him.
"As family members, we are distraught when people are blaming him for the death of his mother, father and sister Norzalina, 35," he said when met today.
Norhan said he was not sure if the family had debt problems as claimed by Mohd Zali in his statement to the police.
"Because of his mental conditions, we can’t really sure if what he told the police was true, that three of his family members killed themselves by drinking poison.
“I hope the police can look into this further as I fear that there could be more individuals involved," he said.
It is learned that autopsies have not been conducted, although family members have made the preparations for burial at Arau Islamic Cemetery.
NTSP earlier reported that three members of a family found dead in Sungai Arau yesterday, were believed to have jumped into the river after drinking poison due to debt problems.
This was based on initial statements given by the family’s surviving son, Mohd Zali, after his arrest.
Mohd Zali had said that the family had earlier taken a train from Sungai Petani to Arau on Tuesday morning and claimed they planned to drink the poison before jumping into the river.
However, he decided to not follow through with it.
