The news of the murders in Banting, a district of Kuala Langat in Selangor, of Cosmetics millionairess Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya, 47 of Gombak, Selangor together with 3 others has pushed back all other noteworthy news in Malaysia for these past few days. News of the appointment of the new Inspector General of Police, the Hari Raya celebrations and, to an extent, even the installation of the Sultan of Kelantan went almost unnoticed.
It all started on the 6th September 2010 with the police saying that they had received report of their disappearance since 30th August, by the families concerned.
The police were efficient in their investigations and they were able to confirm a few days later that they had been murdered and their bodies burnt in a plantation site called Ladang Gadong, Tanjong Sepat. Their ashes were said to have been thrown in the river nearby.
Two lawyer brothers, 38 and 41 who were said to be main culprits have been arrested. They were also said to be involved in the strange disappearances of a few other people of note which the police are vigorously reinvestigating.
It has been concluded that money, in the millions was involved, and that basically it was the result of a business dealing gone awry.
It is hoped the criminals who so mercilessly took away the precious God-given lives would be swiftly brought to justice. The punishment should be really and truly be a deterrent to the other would be murderers.
( Finally, on March 16, 2017, former lawyer Pathmanabhan, 47 and farm workers Thilaiyalagan, 25 and Kathavarayan, 37 were found guilty of murder by the Malaysian Federal Court and were sentenced to death.)
