The daily quoted the suspect’s wife, who only wanted to be known as Nazura, as saying her husband was jealous and unhappy because Amila was getting all the attention from his stepmother, compared with his own two children.

Amila and Nazura shared the same father, Norsyam Jali, 63.

Amila was the son of Norsyam’s fourth wife while Nazura was the daughter of the man’s second wife.

Amila was raised by Nazura’s mother since he was a baby and was much loved by the woman, said the report.

Nazura said her mother had on occasion scolded the son-in-law for being harsh on Amila.

She said her husband had beaten her several times, but she continued to tolerate it for the sake of their two small children.

She urged netizens to stop circulating pictures of her with her husband on social media.

Amila, who lived with his father and stepmother in Jinjang Utara, was reported missing on Aug 11 after going to a nearby mosque for prayers.

His body was found in a bush in Kampung Kemensah, Hulu Kelang, last week.

A 26-year-old man, who works as a mechanic, helped police recover the body and is currently under remand.