Sarawak police chief Mancha Ata said the suspect admitted to taking the victim’s gold earrings and bracelet, and pawning them off, Harian Metro reported.

“During questioning, the suspect admitted to murdering Nurul Asikin Lan and taking her jewellery to pawn off so that he could watch the football match in Cambodia,” Mancha was quoted as saying.

Nurul Asikin, 25, was reported missing on Dec 5. She was reportedly last seen going out with a man she had recently become acquainted with.

Police then arrested the suspect, who confessed to the murder and led the cops to Tabuan Jaya, Kuching, where he had dumped the body.

However, Mancha said police had yet to confirm the identity of the deceased as the body had already decomposed. Nurul’s family members were unable to identify if it was her, he added.

Police are waiting for lab tests to confirm the identity based on DNA samples.