19yo POLISAS Student Allegedly Strangled to Death at Kuantan Rental Home, Boyfriend Arrested

In the early hours of Tuesday (6 October), a female polytechnic student was found dead with marks around her neck at a rental house along Jalan Air Putih 2 in Kuantan, Pahang.

Kuantan OCPD Asst Comm Ashari Abu Samah said police received an emergency call from the victim's boyfriend at approximately 4:32 AM. Upon arriving at the scene, officers found the victim, identified as 19-year-old M Elisa Jonova, lying on a bed in a rented room on the ground floor of the house.

It is believed that the victim was strangled following an argument with her boyfriend.

Image Credit: Medialah

The 19-year-old suspect was arrested at the scene and has been remanded until 12 October to assist in the murder investigation.

The case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.

Victim was seen walking with suspect hours before incident

Meanwhile, a neighbour described the victim as a well-mannered young woman. She said she often saw the victim and three other girls, who were also students at the same polytechnic, walking together or taking e-hailing rides to attend classes.

According to the neighbour, the girls moved into the house about six months ago and were often seen walking around the neighbourhood in pairs.

The neighbour, who declined to be named, also revealed that she saw the victim walking with the suspect along the main road at around 9 PM on Monday, just hours before she was found unresponsive.

"The girls usually walk to nearby eateries or the supermarket. I have no idea how the murder happened or why the suspect was inside the house," she said, as quoted by New Straits Times.

When reporters arrived at the house, the three-storey property appeared to operate like a guesthouse, with several rooms available for long-term rental. It is also understood that the parents of the other female tenants had visited the premises to collect their belongings.

POLISAS to provide support & assistance to victim's family

In a separate statement, the Polytechnic and Community College Education Department expressed its condolences to the family of M Elisa Jonova, a diploma student at Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Polytechnic (POLISAS).

The department, together with POLISAS, said it would provide the necessary support and assistance to the victim's family during this difficult time and would fully cooperate with authorities in the ongoing investigation.

The department also urged the public not to speculate or spread unverified information, as the case remains under investigation.

Featured Image Credit: Malaysia Gazette, Berita Harian