State police chief Dzulkhairi Mukhtar said the shoplot owner lodged a report around 7pm yesterday after noticing a foul smell while checking on the unit.

He said the owner went to the premises after being unable to contact the tenant for several days, Sinar Harian reported.

“Upon entering the shoplot, the owner noticed a foul smell before discovering the folded mattress. The owner then contacted the police, who uncovered the decomposed body.

“The man is believed to have died between two weeks and a month ago,” said Dzulkhairi.

The Melaka police chief said the victim’s identity and gender had not been determined yet as the body had already decomposed, but preliminary investigations found indications that the victim was murdered.

He also said the first floor of the shoplot was earlier rented by a woman before her son moved in.

Police arrested the son, an unemployed man in his 40s, to assist in the investigation. The suspect tested positive for drugs and has a criminal record.

“During the suspect’s arrest, he was under the influence of drugs and was not able to fully cooperate.”

Dzulkhairi said police believe the suspect had ties with the victim, but further investigations are being carried out to establish the motive for the murder.

“We believe this case will be resolved soon,” he said.