BUKIT MERTAJAM: The man believed to be the mastermind behind the brutal killings of Myanmar nationals has been described by a neighbour as looking like the main character of Sivaji The Boss, a Tamil blockbuster.
Anwar, an Indonesian, said the tenant of the “slaughterhouse”, also a Myanmar, wore sunglasses most of the time.
“He has long hair and would sometimes dress up like Indian actor Rajinikanth, who plays the main character in the movie,” he said outside his house in Kampung Pisang, Machang Bubok, yesterday.
However, Anwar, who has been living in the area for eight years, said he did not know the man nor his occupation.
“He kept mostly to himself. He only moved into the house with a woman, who could be his wife, recently,” said the 41-year-old.
“He’s always dressed neatly and is also quite courteous. He would smile at me and my friends whenever he walks by but never speaks to us,” he said.
The construction worker added that the man also prayed at the same mosque every Friday.
“He doesn’t look menacing. We’re really surprised to find out that his home was used as a place to chop up people,” said Anwar.
Noorshah Siti Hazariah Awang said she heard police knocking on her neighbour’s door early Monday morning.
“At that time, we didn’t know what the case was all about,” said the 37-year-old.
“The policemen only said kes berat (serious case). And then I saw the policemen escorting a man into the police car,” she said.
“I never thought that murders could have happened in the house next door to mine as I’ve never heard any screams or suspicious noises,” Noorshah added.
However, Noorshah added that there were always many people at the house.
“There were usually more than four,” she said, adding that there were two women living there.
The “two women” did not answer the door bell when The Star visited the place. However, the house owner, who lives nearby, answered in a hostile manner, saying “tak ada comment (no comment)” when approached.
It was reported that Penang police chief Senior Deputy Comm Datuk Wira Abdul Rahim Hanafi said the last two murders were believed to have taken place at the house.
Police recovered three long machetes, believed to be the weapons used by the suspects, in the house.
Police arrested 17 suspects to help in investigations over the murder of 18 Myanmar nationals in the state this year.
SDCP Abdul Rahim said revenge due to issues in their home country was believed to be the motive behind the killings.
Many human parts were discovered at several public places this year, with six cases in recent weeks.
They were found dumped at industrial areas with most of them wrapped in white cloth, bedsheets or sarong and left by the roadside.
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