Thursday, Dec 06, 2012
KUALA LUMPUR - A make-up artist-cum-designer who was found murdered in his house in Jalan Kasipillay, Sentul, on Dec 4 may have known his assailant.
Othman Hassan, 52, better known as Dicky, was found dead with his hands and legs bound in the master bedroom of his single-storey house.
His nephew, Rayme Rahman, 44, said his uncle may have known his killer as there were no signs of forced entry into the house,
Rayme said Dicky's elder brother went to the house on Tuesday night to check on him as he had not answered his calls.
"He was found face down on the bed, clad in a T-shirt and shorts with his hands and feet tied with a piece of cloth," he said.
Initial investigations revealed that Dicky's laptop, cheques and mobile phone were missing.
A friend, identified only as Zulkifli, said he sent Dicky a SMS on Monday to ask him about an event they were working on this weekend.
"But the SMS did not go through. Calls to his mobile phone also went to his voice mail," Zulkifli said.
"I suspected something amiss as it is not like him to turn off his mobile phone. That was when I contacted his brother."
He said Dicky had told him earlier that his house was broken into on two occasions during the Ramadhan month but he was not at home.
The make-up artist said Dicky was known for his friendliness and his straightforward attitude.
"He was a good and kind-hearted friend. I had known him for more than a decade. We became make-up artists together.
Dicky was well known in the entertainment industry as a make-up artist for more than 20 years. Among his customers were singers Amy Mastura and Sharifah Aini.
Kuala Lumpur CID chief Datuk Ku Chin Wah said initial checks revealed that the victim had sexual intercourse before he was murdered.
"He was strangled and was dead for more than 24 hours before the body was found," he said.
Police have recorded statements from his family and friends to facilitate investigations.