Three nabbed after discovery of skeletal remains believed to be Bella

BATU PAHAT: Three men were arrested following the discovery of the skeletal remains of a woman believed to be Mira Sharmila Samsusah, the single mother also known as Bella, who was reported missing more than a month ago.

Batu Pahat OCPD Asst Comm Ismail Dollah said the three suspects, aged 24 to 39, have been remanded from Jan 20 until 27.

"The post-mortem was conducted by the Sultan Ismail Hospital Forensic Department in Johor Baru this morning.

"The pathology sample from the hospital has been sent to the Chemistry Department to conduct DNA sequencing to identify the victim's identity," he said in a statement here on Saturday (Jan 20).

The case is now being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.

Police had found the skeletal remains of a woman after the main suspect in the case led police to the location where the human remains were found at about 2pm on Friday (Jan 19).

Johor police chief Comm Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat said that the incomplete human skeletal remains were found with some clothes scattered around the area.

"However, it is still too early for us to confirm that the remains found are really Bella's. We will need to wait for the DNA analysis. Dental records will also be used," he said.

Comm Kamarul Zaman said that it could take between a week and a month for the test results.

The case was previously classified under Section 365 of the same Act for kidnapping.

Previously, the single mother of two was reported missing after she could not be contacted on Dec 14. Her family members lodged two police reports last year on Dec 16 and 18.

Bella is said to have been in her boyfriend's car at 11.50pm and was wearing a batik outfit to go to a nearby laundromat. She then went missing.

A 24-year-old man, believed to be Bella's boyfriend, is among three people arrested in relation to the case.