Homicide Investigation Launched: Foreign Woman Found Stabbed to Death in Johor Bahru Hotel Room

Johor Bahru police investigate the murder of a 37-year-old foreign woman found in a hotel room with 11+ stab wounds. A foreign male suspect is currently at large.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 11, 2026, 5:51 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from The Straits Times

Discovery of the Crime Scene

The Johor Bahru South district police have initiated a murder investigation following the discovery of a deceased 37-year-old foreign woman early Wednesday morning. Authorities were alerted to the situation at approximately 5:30 am on March 11, 2026. The victim was located in a hotel room in Taman Maju Jaya, a commercial area within Johor Bahru. Initial forensic assessments suggest the killing occurred in the four-hour window between 1:30 am and 5:30 am.

Severity of Injuries

Johor Bahru South police chief, Assistant Commissioner Raub Selamat, detailed the brutal nature of the attack in a press statement. The victim suffered extensive trauma, including nine stab wounds concentrated in the center of her chest. Additional wounds were discovered on the right and left sides of her chest, as well as her neck, right hand, and a finger, indicating a struggle may have taken place. While the cause of death is clearly linked to these injuries, the specific weapon used in the attack has not yet been recovered by investigators.

Suspect and Investigation Status

Police are currently hunting for a suspect described as a foreign man who was seen fleeing the premises shortly after the estimated time of the incident. While the victim is believed to have been working as a sex worker, police are investigating all possible motives for the killing. The case has been classified under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the mandatory death penalty or life imprisonment upon conviction for murder in Malaysia.