KUALA LUMPUR: A 28-year-old housewife was murdered by a couple believed to be her relatives, for refusing to lend them RM20 ($8).

Police investigations revealed that the couple slashed K. Kayalvily at her home in Tasik Permai, Ampang, on April 19, before fleeing to their home.

They were later seen in the crowd of onlookers when police arrived at the scene and also mourning when Kayalvily's body was taken away.

Ampang Jaya OCPD Asst Comm Abd Jalil Hassan said police arrested the couple, aged between 30 and 40, yesterday.

"With the arrest of the couple, we are confident of solving the case. Our probe revealed that they had demanded money from Kayalvily several times before and that they had asked her for RM20 on the day of the incident.

"But when she told them she did not have any cash to spare, they attacked her," ACP Abd Jalil said, adding that the couple and Kayalvily were related.

Her body was discovered by her husband B. Nirmal, 35, when he arrived home at 4pm. He found her dead in the kitchen with slash wounds on her neck.

Their two young children, who were unharmed, were heard crying.

Initial investigations showed no signs of a break-in and police ruled out robbery as nothing was taken from the house.