KOTA KINABALU — A 71‑year‑old man has been formally charged with murder after dismembered remains of a woman were discovered in a communal rubbish bin in the Sepanggar area of Sabah. The gruesome case has shocked locals and prompted widespread police investigation.
The suspect, Piluta Samad, appeared before the Magistrate’s Court in Kota Kinabalu on Friday, February 27, 2026, where magistrate Dzul Elmy Yunus read out the charge sheet. No plea was recorded at this stage because murder cases fall under the jurisdiction of the High Court.
Samad is accused of murdering 44‑year‑old Hamidah Husin @ Lisa at an unnumbered house in Kampung Sri Kenangan, Jalan Sepanggar, between 6 pm and 7 pm on February 11. The case was filed under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the mandatory death penalty or life imprisonment, and if the death sentence is not imposed, the convicted could face up to 40 years’ imprisonment and whipping.
Following his court appearance, Samad was ordered to be remanded further as authorities await DNA, pathology, forensic and chemical reports before the case progresses. The next mention of the case was scheduled for April 15.
The victim’s dismembered body parts were first discovered on February 12 after local waste collectors noticed human remains in rubbish bins around Indah Permai, Sepanggar. Subsequent investigations linked the woman’s disappearance to a suspected homicide, leading to the arrest of Samad on the same day.
Earlier police investigations revealed that the victim’s remains had been cut into several pieces and disposed of in different locations around the community, prompting a broad search and forensic operation by law enforcement.
In addition to Samad’s arrest, three other individuals — believed to be his children — were also detained to assist in the investigation. Police have indicated that these individuals may potentially be called as prosecution witnesses as part of the ongoing legal process.
Authorities confirmed that two parts of the victim’s body — the left leg and right arm — have yet to be recovered, underlining the severity and brutality of the case. The investigation remains active, with police urging anyone with information to come forward.
