The mystery surrounding the disappearance of 33-year-old teacher Istiqomah Ahmad Rozi, who was reported missing in Kota Masai, Johor, on December 27, 2023, has been resolved.

A DNA test confirmed that a decapitated body, believed to have been murdered and found in a garbage bin, belongs to her. Below is the chronology of the events leading to the identification of her body:

December 26, 2023

- Istiqomah left for work and did not return home.

December 27, 2023

- Istiqomah’s family lodged a police report regarding her disappearance. Seri Alam District Police Chief, Supt Mohd Sohaimi Ishak, confirmed that the report was received at 12:36 am.
- Her car was found parked near a supermarket close to her home in Kota Masai, Johor Bahru.

December 31, 2023

- The decapitated body of a woman, believed to have been murdered and stuffed in a garbage bin, was discovered in a drain along the Alor Gajah-Tampin trunk road near Kampung Rimau, Pulau Sebang, at around 2 pm. The body was located approximately 100 meters from an abandoned house but was not immediately identified.

January 6, 2024

- Alor Gajah District Police Chief, Supt Arshad Abu, revealed that both the victim’s hands and feet had been severed, although the missing body parts were not found in the vicinity.

August 2, 2024

- The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Bukit Aman collected a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sample from Istiqomah’s mother for testing.

August 5, 2024

- A couple, aged 36 and 37, was arrested in Perak by the Special Investigation Division (D9) of the Melaka CID, in collaboration with the Johor CID and the Criminal Investigation Division of the Alor Gajah District Police Headquarters (IPD).

August 6, 2024

- The Alor Gajah Magistrate’s Court granted a seven-day remand order against the couple. Interrogation led to the discovery of additional parts of the victim’s body, including finger bones and the head, approximately six kilometres from where the initial remains were found.

August 12, 2024

- Alor Gajah District Police Chief, Supt Ashari Abu Samah, confirmed that the decapitated body found in a garbage bin in a drain in Kampung Tanjung Rimau, Pulau Sebang, on December 31, 2023, belonged to Istiqomah.

- The Alor Gajah Magistrate’s Court approved an extension of the remand order for the male suspect for an additional seven days.


Source : Bernama & Sinar Daily