KUALA LUMPUR - A couple who went to a relative's house for Hari Raya and agreed to an 'alternative treatment' to rid them of their problems, ended up dead after being battered with helmets and broomsticks during the cleansing ritual.

Five others who also participated in the ritual, including the couple's children and relatives, suffered head injuries and were being treated at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital here.

City CID chief Senior Asst Comm II Ku Chin Wah identified the dead as Mohd Ibrahim Kader Mydin, 47, a cellular phone dealer, and his wife Rosina S.M. Mydin Pillay, 41.

It is learnt that the couple and their three children - two boys aged 19 and 14 and daughter, 21 - had gone to the relative's flat unit on Jalan San Peng here on Wednesday morning.

There, they were greeted by the victims' brother, wife and four children, aged between eight and 23.

Both families were believed to have recently joined a cult.

The victim was said to have been impressed by a nephew's claim that he (the nephew) was told in a dream that he had the power to rid people of their illness and problems.

It was believed both families agreed to participate in the 'ritual' treatment that involved the beating of each other with helmets and broomsticks.

During the ritual, the couple passed out and never regained consciousness.

At 3pm, the nephew assured the rest of the family they had nothing to worry and to have faith in him as the couple would wake up soon.

'But at around 9pm, they realised that the motionless couple had died and immediately called for an ambulance.

'Medical personnel who arrived at the scene pronounced the couple dead and police, who were also present, detained eight people including four family members on the spot,' SAC Ku said.

However, four of them were released after questioning.

The post-mortem results showed that the couple had died from serious head injuries. At 8pm Thursday, their bodies had not been claimed.

Police believe the nephew to be the main suspect and are investigating claims that he suffered from a mental illness.

SAC Ku said police seized two bloodied helmets and several broomsticks believed to have been used in the ritual.

He said police obtained a seven-day remand order for the four to assist in investigations under Section 302 and 304 of the Penal Code.