KLANG, MALAYSIA - A 19-YEAR-OLD clerk from Kapar was found murdered with his head nearly severed in an oil palm estate in Kampung Perepat yesterday morning.

The 52-year-old plantation owner, who declined to be named, said he had first spotted the victim's parked motorcycle at 10am when he went to inspect his land.

On nearing the vehicle, he was shocked to find S. Rupenthiran's bloodied body with his head almost severed. There were two deep slash wounds on the head and three other wounds on the body.

He immediately informed the police who sent in a team to the murder scene.

According to a friend who declined to be named, Rupenthiran had left his girlfriend's house at 6.30pm on Saturday and returned home after receiving a phone call.

Rupenthiran, a clerk at an ice factory in Port Klang, was said to have left home again at 7.30pm. When he failed to return home that night, his family members and friends searched for him for several hours but in vain.

Meanwhile, Klang OCPD Asst Comm Mohamad Mat Yusop said it is likely that more than one assailant had attacked Rupenthiran.

ACP Mohamad, who said that there were also signs of a struggle, added that the case was being investigated for murder under Section 302 of the Penal Code.

He said three suspects had been picked up and would be produced at the Klang magistrate's court for a remand order this morning. - The Star