POLICE have recovered the BMW 520D used to kill a man at a Johor Baru petrol station on December 17.

The white sedan was found in an oil palm estate in Ayer Baloi, Pontian, with its registration plate removed.

Police went to the estate to recover the vehicle at 3.30pm yesterday, following a tip-off from the public.

“Police forensic officers are processing the car, and have verified that it is the same vehicle used in the murder,” said Johor police chief Mohd Khalil Kader Mohd during a press conference today.

He said the vehicle was one of the weapons used in the murder, and that police were still searching for a knife that was used to stab the victim.

On Friday, police had said the motive for the murder was drug-trafficking debts.

“This is an isolated case involving the individual and debts from drug trafficking,” said Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department director Wan Ahmad Najmuddin Mohd last week.

He had said police were able to confirm that the victim was not a gang leader, following arrests made in Penang.

Khalil today said police were hunting another three suspects, adding that 15 people had been arrested so far.

“Four of the suspects – three men and one woman – will be released soon after the investigations are finalised.

“Another 11 suspects – eight men and three women – will continue to be remanded. Their remand ends on Saturday.”

Tan Aik Chai, 44, died at a petrol station in Taman Pelangi, Johor Baru, after he was stabbed and repeatedly run over by a car with four men in it.

It was reported that the victim had stopped at the petrol station with his Vietnamese wife. – December 27, 2017.