Man arrested over rape and murder of 16-year-old schoolgirl

KOTA KINABALU: Police have arrested a 40-year-old man in connection with the brutal rape and murder of a 16-year-old schoolgirl in Sabah's northern Kota Matudu district.

The suspect, a foreigner who operates a furniture shop, was arrested at about 10am Tuesday after the body of Norikoh Saliwah was found thrown by the roadside near Kampung Ranau at about 12.40pm on Sunday about 2km from Kota Marudu town.

Acting Kota Marudu district police chief Asst Supt Kamaruddin Sulaiman in confirming the arrest said that police believe that the girl was raped and murdered.

"We are questioning the suspect," he said without wanting elaborate further on the case that has sparked outrage among the people in Kota Marudu.

According to friends and family, the girl was last seen going into a furniture shop with her sister and their cousin.

The sister and cousin had apparently left her at the shop as she had gone to see furniture at the upper floor of the shop.

It was the last time she was seen by the sister and her cousin who only realised she was missing at round noon on Sunday.

Police, who initially found the body by the road, suspected that she might been a victim of hit and run.