KUALA LUMPUR: Police have recorded statements from seven people, including Universiti Malaya (UM) lecturers and students, to assist in investigations into the discovery of multiple cat carcasses in disturbing conditions at the university.
City police chief Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa said an animal rights activist was also called to facilitate the investigation.
Rusdi added that a cat carcass found on Dec 20 had been handed over to the police by the activist.
"So far, a total of seven people, consisting of UM lecturers and students as well as one animal rights activist, have had their statements recorded.
"The statement of the animal rights activist has been recorded, and the carcass of a cat found on Dec 20 was handed over to the police by the activist.
"The cat carcass was sent to the Veterinary Laboratory for examination and post-mortem on Dec 27," he said in a statement.
Rusdi said the carcass of a cat found yesterday in the parking lot of the university's Faculty of Sports and Exercise Sciences was also sent for examination and post-mortem.
Yesterday, another gruesome discovery was made at UM as a cat carcass was found near the campus gymnasium.
This follows the deaths of five other cats believed to have been killed in similar ways.
Yesterday, Rusdi said police have launched a fresh investigation into the recent deaths of three cats at UM.
The move came on the heels of the calls by independent rescuers and animal rights activists urging authorities for a thorough investigation into the case.
On Dec 20, the UM management reported the cat deaths on the campus to the police to aid investigations and to ensure action is taken if cruelty is involved.
Two cats were found dead in disturbing conditions at the university's Faculty of Business and Economics on Dec 12 and 16.
Following this, the UM Student Union lodged a police report on Dec 17.
Last Friday, a cat named Lily was found dead. Its four legs appeared to have been severed, and it had large wounds on its body.