BY AMYRA VARKISA
SIBU: The body of a local man said to be suffering from mental illness and feared to have drowned after he fell into the Rajang River on Tuesday has been recovered.
The victim is identified as Moses Yong Jia Wan, 22.
According to Fire and Rescue Department Zone 4 chief Andy Alie, the body was found by the firefighters at around 10.17 am yesterday.
“The victim’s body was found five kilometres from the spot he was last seen at about 5.15 pm on Tuesday.
“After the victim was identified by his family, his body was handed over to the police for further action,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Yong was reported missing after he fell into the river and witnessed by his sibling at around 5.15 pm near Esplanade Sibu, Jalan Maju here.
The Fire and Rescue Department immediately mounted a search and rescue (SAR) operation after being alerted to the incident but failed to locate his body. The second day of the SAR operation also proved futile.
The operation resumed yesterday morning at 8.40 am and ended at 11 am after Yong’s body was found.
Meanwhile, Sibu police Chief ACP Zulkipli Suhaili when contacted said that the police classified the case as a sudden death.
“The victim’s body will be sent for post-mortem to identify the cause of death,” he said.
