RAWANG: What started out as a joyride on the eve of the Tamil New Year ended in the brutal murders of a temple priest and his friend.

The 23-year-olds, whose identities have been withheld by police, were found in a green Perodua Kembara by passers-by at about 8.50am yesterday.

Preliminary investigations suggested that prior to the incident at KM10 of Jalan Bristol here, the victims had just picked up four friends from Taman Pelangi to head for Kuang to celebrate the Tamil New Year.

It was believed that one of the suspects, who was seated at the back of the vehicle, had made a disparaging remark about the priest’s character during the ride.

Enraged, the priest, who was also the driver, whipped out a penknife and threatened them.

Gombak OCPD Asst Comm Ali Ahmad said a scuffle then broke out at about 1.30am.

“One of the suspects snatched the knife away and used it to slit the priest’s neck. His body was dragged to the back of the car,” he said in a press conference.

ACP Ali added that the commotion caused the car to swerve before it stopped at the side of the road. It also awakened the second victim.

Shocked at what had happened, he told the suspects that he would report the incident to the police.

“That could have prompted the men to strangle him with a seat belt from behind,” he said.

“They then tried to get rid of the bodies by pushing the vehicle into a ravine nearby before fleeing.”

Two 20-year-old men were later picked up in the area.

“We have positive leads that they were involved in the case.

“We are also tracking down the other two suspects, aged 20 and 23,” he said.

ACP Ali ruled out gang fight as the cause of the murders.

The bodies were sent to Sungai Buloh Hospital for a post-mortem.