The Star/Asia News Network
Friday, Nov 02, 2012
KEDAH, Malaysia - A 68-year-old woman died due to suspected suffocation after she was found tied and gagged with a face towel at her double-storey wooden house in Lorong Keriang, near here.
Neighbours rushed to the house of Supama Govindasa, a widow, upon hearing noises and seeing the main door left ajar.
She was found barely breathing and lying on the floor in a storeroom.
Businessman Chua Chong Kong, 53, said Supama was having breathing difficulties when they found her at around 5am yesterday.
"We took her to the living room and placed her on a chair. She died before the medics could arrive," he said, adding that they then immediately alerted the police.
Others who rushed to the scene were members of the MCA crisis relief squad and Rela members.
The police could not immediately confirm the cause of Supama's death.
Her body has been taken to the Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital for a post-mortem.
"The victim was barely breathing when she was found. There were no injuries or bruises on her," said Kedah CID chief Asst Comm Mohd Zakaria Ahmad.
He said the intruders could have gained entry from the back of the house with the intention of robbing the victim.
"We have yet to ascertain what has been stolen or has gone missing," said ACP Zakaria.
Supama was staying alone in the house.
Her son works in Penang and her daughter is in Johor.
