Family weeps as slain teacher Istiqomah begins final journey to Pasir Mas hometown

MELAKA: Tears flowed among family members of murder victim Istiqomah Ahmad Rozi during her final journey from Melaka Hospital’s mortuary to a burial ground at Kampung Kubang Badak, Pasir Mas in Kelantan.

The family members including children, all clad in black, wept as the van carrying the remains of the 34-year-old teacher left the mortuary at 2.10pm on Monday (Aug 19).

The family gave some words of thanks to the attending media as they walked out from the hospital’s compound to a nearby car park.

Alor Gajah OCPD Superintendent Ashari Abu Samah was at the hospital to assist the family members in the process of claiming the body.

Supt Ashari, when met outside the mortuary, said the process went smoothly and doctors took time to explain the current situation to family members as the body parts discovered were still incomplete.

“The family members accepted her (victim’s) fate after the doctors’ explanation but Istiqomah’s husband, Mohd Yusof Mokhtar, 35, was too distraught and declined the offer to see the remains of his wife when offered by the doctors,” he said.

Supt Ashari said the police are still investigating the case despite an ex-teacher being charged at the Magistrate Court in Alor Gajah here for the alleged murder of Istiqomah.

He said the police are also trying hard to recover the other body parts as well as the weapon used during the alleged murder.

“Based on our investigations, the 36-year-old man who was charged at the Alor Gajah Magistrate’s Court was the only suspect in the alleged murder,” he added.

Earlier, Mohd Fadzly Ariffadzillah was charged with the alleged murder of Istiqomah.

No plea was recorded when the accused, Mohd Fadzly Ariffadzillah, 36, was produced before magistrate Dr Teo Shu Yee on Mon (Aug 19).

Based on the facts on the charge sheet, the accused who is an ex-teacher had allegedly murdered Istiqomah, 34, at a roadside along Kampung Tanjung Rimau, Pulau Sebang here between Dec 26 to Dec 31, 2023.

Istiqomah, a teacher at SK Kota Masai 3, Johor was reported missing after she failed to return home from work on Dec 26, 2023.

The victim’s car was found in the parking lot of a supermarket in Pasir Gudang, Johor the next day (Dec 27).

On Dec 31, last year, the decapitated body of a woman was discovered in a rubbish bin, left along the Alor Gajah-Tampin road, near Kampung Tanjung Rimau in Pulau Sebang in Alor Gajah, here.

Police later identified the remains to be Istiqomah through DNA tests conducted by Bukit Aman on Aug 2.

Based on the new lead, Melaka police embarked on an in-depth investigation together with their Johor counterparts before arresting a married couple, aged 36 and 37, in Chemor, Perak, on Aug 5.

The male suspect then led to the discovery of more body parts of the victim’s remains, about six kilometres from where the victim’s body was found.

The suspect’s wife was released on police bail after it was found that she had no connection with the case.

Istiqomah, a mother of three, had attended college with the accused and was believed to be involved in a business deal with the latter.