The new tenant of a property previously rented by Zhuojun ‘Sally’ Li and her husband Jai-Bao ‘Rex’ Chen prior to their suspected murder and disappearance just weeks ago has issued a desperate plea.
Ms Li’s body was found wrapped in plastic in bushland along Foreshore Rd at Botany on the morning of December 9.
Ms Li, who moved to Australia from China about 20 years ago, had been reported missing by her mother earlier this month after she wasn’t able to reach her.
A second body was found on December 17 submerged in a creek and water near where Ms Li’s was discovered.
While yet to be identified, police believe it’s likely to be Ms Li’s husband, Mr Chen.
Zhuojun ‘Sally’ Li’s body was found wrapped in plastic in Bushland in Botany. Picture: NSW Police.
Police have since found a second body believed to be that of Ms Li’s husband, Jai-Bao ‘Rex’ Chen. Picture: NSW Police.
The couple previously rented a property in Greenacre, however the home appears to have been sold on October 30 this year according to realestate.com.au, about a month before the couple were reported missing.
Ms Li’s mother was seen putting the couple’s things on the nature strip outside the property on December 15.
It’s understood the agent had sent people in to clear out the couple’s belongings from the nature strip on Thursday.
The new tenant, who wished to remain anonymous, said moving into the property had been a nightmare.
She told NewsWire she felt as though her home was being treated like a crime scene by the media, however emphasised it had been cleared by police.
Removalists were brought in to move Ms Li’s and Mr Chen’s things from outside the property. Picture: NewsWire / Jeremy Piper
If it hadn’t, she wouldn’t have been able to move in, she said.
She also said her mental health had been impacted by the whole process, with her children also affected.
The new tenant also added she really felt for Ms Li and Mr Chen, however expressed her hope she and her family would be given privacy in their new home.
Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty earlier suggested the couple were allegedly murdered at a property in Greenacre before they were transported to Botany.
“I don’t want to jump the gun if this is Rex, but the location of the where the murder would have happened would have been in the Greenacre address, that’s a strong theory that we have,” Superintendent Doherty said in a press conference on Tuesday.
“The bodies then driven to Foreshore Drive and placed where they are now. They were there for some time.
“That’s the likelihood, and that’s where the investigation is running, that the Greenacre was the actual location.”
Police have released CCTV footage of a car that was seized. Picture: NSW Police.
Police are investigating two suspects believed to have fled offshore. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short
A NSW State Crime Command spokesperson told NewsWire the Greenacre property was not an active crime scene on Thursday, however they did not rule out whether any crime had occurred at the property in the past.
“The scene has been processed, it’s not a current active crime scene,” the spokesperson said.
Superintendent Doherty also earlier said investigators believed there may have been a financial motive behind the crime.
The investigation remains ongoing. Picture: NewsWire/ Monique Harmer
Superintendent Doherty earlier revealed a car, believed to have transported Ms Li’s body before she was “disposed of … in bushland”, had been seized to undergo forensic examination.
He said Ms Li’s body would have been disposed of between 4am and 5am on November 30.
“That would fit with the, unfortunately, with the decomposition and the start of the body,” he said.
He also revealed Mr Chen’s phone was retrieved from Queensland after the alleged murder.
“At some stage, after the bodies have been dumped, they (suspected third parties) have travelled up to Queensland,” he said.
The detective said the police had two suspects, who had both fled offshore.
“We are liaising with Taiwan and Chinese authorities … possibility two people involved are both offshore.”
“At least two people involved and have travelled overseas. Post the bodies being dumped.”