KUALA LUMPUR – Two suspects, including the housemate of Maniishapriet Kaur Akhara, the university student found dead in a Cyberjaya hostel last month, will be formally charged with murder on Thursday (July 10), authorities confirmed.
Sepang district police chief Assistant Commissioner (ACP) Norhizam Bahaman said both the 20-year-old main suspect and his girlfriend, who shared a hostel unit with the victim, will face charges under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder. The offence carries the mandatory death penalty upon conviction.
“The Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) has instructed that the two suspects be prosecuted for the murder. They will be brought to the Sepang Court on Thursday,” ACP Norhizam said on Wednesday (July 9).
The main suspect, who is the boyfriend of the victim’s housemate, had initially been scheduled for a court appearance on Tuesday (July 8). However, the proceedings were postponed while awaiting further directives from the AGC.
Timeline of Arrests
The tragic case began to unfold after police discovered the lifeless body of Maniishapriet, a Bachelor of Physiotherapy student, in her hostel room in Cyberjaya on the morning of June 24.
According to police reports, a friend who visited the hostel around 10am found the 20-year-old victim unconscious with visible injuries on her body. The friend immediately contacted the authorities.
At the time of the incident, Maniishapriet had been living alone in the unit, as her five housemates had returned to their respective hometowns for the holidays on June 21. She had stayed behind to prepare for an upcoming examination.
A post-mortem examination confirmed that Maniishapriet died from blunt force trauma to the head. Police said the pathology report did not indicate any signs of rape, although investigations into possible sexual assault are ongoing.
How the Crime Allegedly Occurred
Selangor police chief Commissioner Datuk Hussein Omar Khan revealed that the victim’s housemate had given her boyfriend—the main suspect—an access card and keys to the hostel unit.
“The main suspect had apparently stayed overnight at the hostel previously. On the night of the incident, he was given the access card and keys because he wanted to stay there again while his girlfriend was back in her hometown,” Commissioner Hussein said.
However, he added, the suspect allegedly harboured ill intentions toward the victim.
“On that night, he hit the victim using an object, which ultimately led to her death,” he said.
Following the murder, the suspect is believed to have stolen several of Maniishapriet’s personal belongings, including her ATM card, laptop, and mobile phone. Police confirmed that the suspect withdrew RM200 from the victim’s bank account using her ATM card.
Arrests and Witness Cooperation
In the aftermath of the murder, four individuals—one man and three women, aged 19 and 20—were arrested in separate operations conducted in Johor Baru, Johor, and Gemencheh, Negeri Sembilan on June 26 and the early hours of June 27. Police acted swiftly, apprehending the suspects within 48 hours of the initial police report.
Of the four arrested, two have since been released on police bail and are expected to serve as prosecution witnesses, ACP Norhizam confirmed.
“We are still investigating the motive behind the murder,” Commissioner Hussein said.
Community Shock and Ongoing Investigation
The brutal killing has left the university community and the victim’s family reeling. Maniishapriet, who was from Kuching, Sarawak, was described as a diligent student who had stayed behind to study for her exams while her housemates returned home for the holiday break.
Selangor police assured that investigations are continuing, particularly to determine whether any sexual assault occurred and to establish a clear motive for the killing.
The police also confirmed that the investigation paper would soon be forwarded to the Deputy Public Prosecutor for further action.
“This is a tragic and deeply upsetting incident,” Commissioner Hussein said. “We are committed to ensuring that those responsible face justice.”
As of now, both suspects remain in custody pending their court appearance on July 10. Further updates are expected once formal charges are filed and court proceedings begin.
