Decomposed body of 70-year-old man found in Alor Star river

ALOR STAR: The decomposed body of a 70-year-old man was found in a river along the Sungai Raja pump house here today.Kota Setar police chief, Assistant Commissioner Siti Nor Salawati Saad, said the district police's command centre was alerted to the discovery of the body at 12.43pm today.

She said a team from the district police headquarters, assisted by state police's forensic unit, was deployed to the scene.Checks showed that the man was believed to have died several days ago."This estimation was based on the body's advanced state of decomposition.



"Police also found a drivers licence. Further checks showed that his next-of-kin had lodged a missing persons report on March 23."Preliminary investigations suggest no evidence of foul play.

There were no wounds on the body," she said in a statement today.Siti Nor Salawati said the body was brought to the Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital's forensic department for a post-mortem examination.She said they have yet to ascertain the cause of death and are awaiting the full post-mortem report.

She said the case has been classified as sudden death pending more information."Those with information on the case can contact Kota Setar police or the Alor Star police station chief, Inspector Douglas Anak Tugau at 013-3312210," she said.© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd.