More Details Emerge After Boy Allegedly Murdered A POLISAS Female Student
The suspect reportedly claimed that it was an accident.
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Several new details have emerged about the death of a 19-year-old Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Polytechnic (POLISAS) student who was allegedly strangled following an argument with her boyfriend at a rented house in Kuantan
The victim, identified as M Elisa Jonova, was found unconscious in a room at the premises along Jalan Air Putih in the early hours of Tuesday, 6 October.
Her 19-year-old boyfriend has been arrested and remanded until 12 October to assist in the murder investigation.
According to a flower vendor near the premises, a heated argument suddenly broke out inside the room at around 2am. She told China Press that the other housemates became concerned by the noise and went to the room to knock on the door.
The neighbour claimed that when the male suspect opened the door, he told the housemates that he had accidentally killed his girlfriend.
The housemates were reportedly terrified by what they heard.
The neighbour said some of them later called their families in Perak and Kuala Lumpur during the early morning hours, saying they were frightened and wanted to return home.
According to the New Straits Times, the property appeared to operate as a guesthouse, with several rooms available for longer-term rental. When reporters visited the premises, they were informed that the parents of some of the other students had come to collect their belongings following the incident.
The victim, M Elisa Jonova.
Image via Social mediaThe neighbour also revealed that Elisa was originally from Kedah
She said Elisa's mother had previously made a trip to the area and asked her to keep an eye on her daughter and contact her if anything happened.
She described Elisa as a friendly person who worked at a nearby restaurant with a friend and would usually greet people whenever she saw them.
She said no one expected the situation to end in tragedy.
Meanwhile, another neighbour said she was shocked after learning about Elisa's death because she had seen the victim walking with the male suspect just hours earlier.
The woman, in her 40s, said she saw the pair walking along the main road near Jalan Air Putih at about 9pm on Monday, 5 October.
"I saw them last night and was shocked when I was informed about the girl's death. I knew her as a well-mannered person," she said.
She said Elisa and three other female students from POLISAS had rented two rooms in the three-storey house about six months ago.
The neighbour said she would often see the four students walking around together or taking e-hailing rides to attend classes.
"They would usually walk to nearby eateries or the supermarket. I am clueless how the murder occurred or why the suspect was present inside the house," she said.
Family members and acquaintances gathered at the Forensic Medicine Department of Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital following the discovery of the body of a 19-year-old female student—believed to have been strangled by her boyfriend—at a house in Air Putih, Kuantan.
Image via Muhammad Delima Atan/New Straits Times Image viaThe Polytechnic and Community College Education Department said it would cooperate fully with police in investigating Elisa's death
In a statement, the department expressed its condolences to her family and said Elisa, 19, was a diploma student at POLISAS.
"The case is currently under investigation by the authorities. The department and POLISAS will give full cooperation to assist in the investigation and leave it to the authorities to conduct a thorough probe," it said.
It also urged the public not to speculate or disseminate unverified information, while asking that the privacy of Elisa's family be respected. The department said POLISAS would continue providing the necessary support and assistance to the family.
POLISAS also expressed its sorrow and condolences to the victim's family in a Facebook post, which included a photograph of Elisa.
Police previously said they received a MERS 999 emergency call from the suspect around 4.32am on Tuesday, reporting that he had been involved in a fight with his girlfriend
When officers arrived at the rented house, they found Elisa lying unconscious on a bed inside a ground-floor room. Forensic specialists from Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital (HTAA) found pressure marks around her neck before she was pronounced dead.
Kuantan district police chief ACP Ashari Abu Samah said initial investigations indicated that the incident was believed to have stemmed from a misunderstanding between the couple.
The suspect was arrested at the scene and later brought before the Kuantan Magistrate's Court, where he was remanded for seven days.
The case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.
A post-mortem examination is being conducted at HTAA's Forensics Department to establish the exact cause of death, while police continue recording witness statements and securing forensic reports.
