He said the girlfriend lived in the same unit as the victim, and had returned to her hometown after exams ended.

“The suspect took advantage of the victim being alone in the apartment while she was waiting to sit her final paper.

“He had previously stayed overnight at the unit several times, so he was familiar with the place and saw his opportunity on the night of June 24,” Utusan Malaysia quoted Hussein as saying.

After allegedly assaulting and killing her, the unemployed suspect is said to have robbed her, taking her mobile phone, laptop, and ATM card that he used to spend RM200.

Some of the stolen items were later recovered, while others were believed to have been discarded, Hussein said.

Hussein said four people have been detained in connection with the murder – the main suspect, the victim’s housemate, a woman believed to be the suspect’s friend, and another man who knew the victim but lived in a separate apartment block.

All of them have been remanded for seven days.

Hussein said police had also recorded statements from two other housemates and would be calling another one for questioning.

Another person, currently in jail, is being probed for allegedly receiving some of the victim’s belongings, although he is not believed to be directly involved in the murder, Hussein said.

“We believe we will complete (the investigation) soon. With the arrest of the main suspect and the others, the case is considered resolved,” Hussein said.

The victim, University of Cyberjaya student Maniishapriet Kaur Akhara, was found dead in her condominium unit by a friend at about 10am on June 24.

An autopsy identified her cause of death as blunt force trauma to the head. Police said there were no signs that her residence had been broken into, and that she had not suffered injuries consistent with rape.