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Police have arrested an expatriate man for murder when the body of a 31-year-old Filipina was found inside a manhole on Wylie Road in Yau Ma Tei this (Sunday) morning.

The suspect is a 23-year-old British Nigerian while the woman is his former domestic helper.

Last night, the suspect went to the Filipino Workers Development Centre, Hong Kong, at 16 Wylie Road where the victim was staying.

A scuffle ensued when he found the victim inside a bathroom on the first floor of the Centre shortly before 10.30 pm.

A number of Filipinas also staying in the Centre heard the victim shouting for help and made a report to Police for assistance at 10.40 pm.

Both the man and the victim had disappeared when Police officers arrived at the scene.

Officers found signs of struggle on the first floor of the Centre, blood stains along the staircase leading to the ground floor and a pair of slippers belonging to the victim on the ground floor.

A search was then mounted in the area and a Police dog was also deployed to assist in the search.

At about 2 am today, officers located the man at the ground-floor staircase of another building about 300 to 400 metres away from the Centre.

Upon questioning, the man claimed he left after having a fight with his ex-employee and had no idea on her whereabouts. Police immediately held the man in custody while searches for the woman continued.

The body of the woman was eventually found inside a manhole behind the Centre at 7.20 am today.

Initial examination showed she died at about 10.30 pm yesterday. Bruise marks can be observed on the face and neck but the cause of death is yet to be established pending an autopsy to be conducted tomorrow.

Police investigations showed that the suspect had at least one record of assaulting the woman when she was still working as his domestic helper.

Following another similar report made to the Police by the woman earlier this month, her employment contract with the man was terminated and she was then arranged to reside in the Centre.

The suspect is being detained by District Crime Squad, Yau Tsim, for questioning.

Add Police Report No. 4

Issued by PPRB

End/1645 hours, Sunday, May 23, 1999 (EL/CT)

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