KOTA KINABALU, Feb 13 — Police have nabbed a father and son as suspects in the shocking murder and dismemberment of a woman whose body was hacked into seven parts and discarded in various dump sites around Indah Permai, Sepanggar yesterday.

Police arrested the main suspect, the father in his 70s, at about 5pm, while the son, in his 20s, was arrested at around 11pm from an apartment block in Sepanggar.

Acting Kota Kinabalu District Police Chief Syed Lot Syed Ab Rahman confirmed the arrest and said the case is considered solved with the detention of the main suspect.

“Initial investigations found that the motive is believed to stem from jealousy, which led to an argument between the suspect and the victim before the brutal incident occurred,” he said.

Yesterday, garbage disposal workers discovered the first arm and leg at a dumpsite near a supermarket in Indah Permai at around 6.30am. The arm had fallen out of a plastic garbage bag when it was picked up.

At 11.40am, police recovered a head and torso at another garbage site near the Bataras supermarket.

Police identified the suspect based on physical clues found on the victim’s body.

The victim is believed to be in her 40s. Two more body parts – her other arm and leg – have yet to be recovered.

The case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the death penalty or life imprisonment upon conviction.