MELAKA, May 29 — A decomposed body, believed to have been dead for between two weeks and a month, was found wrapped in a folded mattress inside a shophouse in Pokok Mangga here last night.

Melaka police chief Datuk Dzulkhairi Mukhtar said the body, whose identity has yet to be established, was discovered after the owner of the premises inspected the property when he was unable to contact the tenant.

Upon entering the shophouse, the owner detected a foul smell and found a suspicious mattress bundle in the living room before alerting the police. Further inspection uncovered a badly decomposed body with both hands tied.

“Based on the condition of the victim and the circumstances at the scene, we believe foul play was involved,” he told reporters after attending the handover ceremony for the Melaka Tengah police chief and district-level Police Family Association (Perkep) chairperson at the Malim police station here today.

Dzulkhairi said preliminary investigations found that the two-storey shophouse had been rented by a woman as accommodation for her son.

Police subsequently arrested a 40-year-old local man, believed to be the tenant's son, to assist in the investigation.

Police believe the victim had a connection to the suspect, who tested positive for syabu and has seven previous criminal records.

The suspect was in a drug-induced state when arrested and has yet to cooperate with investigators. The case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder. — Bernama