Cops probe why Finn avoided CCTV

ROMPIN: Police are investigating why Finnish citizen Nikitin Aleksis Elis Valtteri, 20, who went missing in Pulau Tioman on Jan 22, tried to avoid being seen on a CCTV camera while at a resort in Kampung Paya.

Rompin district police chief DSP Azli Mohd Noor said Valtteri was caught on camera between 7am and 8.30am that day.

“The recording shows him wearing a black shirt and long pants, and trying to block the view of the CCTV camera with his hand.

“The motive is being investigated. Police have also questioned some people who were in contact with the man before he was reported missing,” Bernama reported him as saying yesterday.

According to him, the search and rescue operation (SAR) launched on Jan 26 to look for the Finn was still ongoing, but the number of members involved was reduced due to a lack of leads.

“Rescuers have scoured some 10sq km near where the man was last seen in Kampung Paya, including Kampung Tekek, the jungle, hills, beach and mangroves up to a turtle sanctuary.

“At one point, the tracking dogs caught the man’s scent in Kampung Bunut, but the search ended up going in circles,” he said.

Valtteri arrived in Malaysia on Jan 18 and entered Tioman Island on Jan 21 before he was reported missing the day after.