Detained Farmer Claims It Was "Impossible" For Victims To Reach The Poisoned Snacks
The farmer, identified as Am, is the victims' neighbour.
By Yap Wan Xiang — 11 Jul 2024, 03:54 PM
A farmer has been remanded in connection with the case involving two brothers who consumed poison-laced snacks.
One of the brothers has since died.
The farmer, identified only as Am, claimed that it was "impossible" for the victims to reach the poisoned snacks, which were tied to a fence 1.2m above ground at Kampung Padang Ubi in Labu Besar, Kedah, reported the New Straits Times.
Am was apprehended by the police in Lubuk Buntar, Serdang yesterday, 10 July. Judge Mirza Mohamad granted a six-day remand when Am appeared before the Kulim Magistrate's Court at 8am today, 11 July.
The suspect, in his 30s, is a neighbour of the victims. He did not have a prior criminal record and tested negative for drugs.
Claiming innocence, Am said the victims could only have retrieved the snacks with the help of an adult, or the snacks must have fallen to the ground
He explained that his brother placed the snacks near a path next to the forest frequented by monkeys, emphasising that they were not tied to a fence near the road.
"There are only two possibilities: either an adult took it or a monkey did and it fell somewhere," Am told the New Straits Times yesterday.
"My brother said he tied five packs of the snacks mixed with rat poison on the wire fence of the orchard.
"He believes three were taken away by monkeys, one is lost, while the other remains on the fence," Am added.
He also explained why the poison intended for monkeys was stored in the packaging of a popular snack brand
"We typically use this type of snack because the packaging and contents are brightly coloured.
"Monkeys often touch the snacks and then lick their fingers. We avoid using fruits because we don't want the cows we raise to lick or consume them," Am told the English daily.
He disclosed that the poison used was an unregistered product from China, commonly used by farmers in the area.
Am mentioned that each packet of the poison costs RM3 and is available for purchase online. He also stated that it was not unusual for unregistered poison products to be sold in Kulim.
One of the victims, 3-year-old Muhammad Akil Syauqi Abdul Rahman, died while receiving treatment yesterday, while his 2-year-old brother is still fighting for his life.
The brothers consumed the poisoned snacks on Monday, 8 July, without their parents' supervision.
Their grandmother revealed that the victims looked happy when they brought the snacks home.
