A man was believed to have committed suicide by hanging himself after killing his wife at Taman Mesra Indah, Butterworth near here, Saturday.

Seberang Perai Utara district police chief ACP Azmi Adam said R. Maphooh, 34, a Thai national was believed to have been slashed and stabbed by her husband, who is a local, following an argument, in the 4pm incident.

Azmi said the argument was believed to have started in a room and ended in a fight outside their house.

"The woman died at the scene due to serious injuries after being slashed and stabbed on the neck, body and right thigh. Her body was found in front of the house," he told a press conference here last night.

When prodded, Azmi said the man, a 33-year-old lorry driver, then went into their house and hanged himself with a rope tied to a ceiling fan in the master bedroom.

He added that the argument broke out after the wife found out that her husband had withdrawn RM4,000 of her money from her bank account without her consent and lost it at a gambling table.

"The man was believed to have withdrawn RM4,000 of her money on Thursday, but she only knew about it today," he added.

Azmi said the victim's sister, aged 36, who was in the house left to seek help when she heard the couple arguing.