A 71-YEAR-OLD man is due to be charged with murder on Monday after a deadly shooting at a restaurant in Johor left three people dead, in a case that has shocked the local community and raised questions over the circumstances leading to the violence.
Johor Police Chief Ab Rahaman Arsad said investigators recovered six spent bullet casings at the scene, indicating multiple shots were fired during the incident at Taman Kota Jaya in Kota Tinggi.
“Police found six spent bullet casings at the scene, so we believe that six shots were likely fired during the incident.
“However, we have not yet received the full post-mortem report,” he said during a press conference at the Johor police contingent headquarters today.
The suspect, a local man described as a smallholder, was arrested approximately 30 minutes after the shooting and is expected to be charged at the Kota Tinggi Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
Police confirmed he will face three charges under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.
He is currently being held on remand until Sunday, with the investigation papers already submitted to the Johor State Prosecution Director’s Office.
Authorities said there were no familial ties between the suspect and the victims, who were known to each other as acquaintances.
One of the victims, a Vietnamese woman, managed the restaurant, which belonged to her mother-in-law. The two male victims were described as regular patrons.
Investigators believe a financial dispute may have contributed to the incident.
According to police, the suspect had lent the woman money in stages since 2023 to support the business, amounting to roughly RM50,000, although no formal agreement or documentation existed.
Police also confirmed that the suspect legally owned a shotgun licence issued in Kuantan, Pahang, which he had held since 1991.
The case is expected to proceed in court on Monday, as authorities continue to await the full post-mortem report. - April 24, 2026
