Decomposed body found in Pekan nothing to do with organ harvesting, say cops

KUANTAN: Police have denied any elements of illegal organ harvesting after a decomposed body, believed to be that of a missing 11-year-old girl, was found in Pekan.

Pahang CID chief SAC Datuk Othman Nanyan said news linking the discovery with human organ trafficking were baseless, as there was a possibility that the body's condition was caused by wild animals and exposure.

He said although the mother of the missing girl had identified the clothes on the body, police could not confirm the identity yet, until a DNA test is performed.

SAC Othman said the cause of death was probable head injury as three traces of injuries were found on the left side of the jaw, upper left side of the skull and back of the head.

Last Saturday (Feb 9), villagers made a gruesome discovery in an undergrowth in Kampung Tanjung Medang Hilir some 3km from the missing girl's house.

The body, believed to be that of Cambodian girl Siti Masitah Ibrahim, was found lying face down, while her hands were found tied behind her back.

The girl had been reported missing since Jan 30 when she did not return after leaving home at about 5pm.

Based on statements from witnesses, the girl was seen riding on a motorcycle with an unknown man.

SAC Othman said a 23-year-old Cambodian man, who was detained on Jan 31 to assist in investigations, had admitted his involvement in the girl's disappearance.

"The suspect is known to the victim's family and lived in the same village. At first, he did not confess to the victim's disappearance during interrogation, but after further questioning, he at last revealed his involvement," SAC Othman said on Monday (Feb 11).

Police had also seized a wooden weapon, believed to have been used to hit the victim, he said.

"The motive may have been vengeance or anger towards the victim's family," he said.

The suspect had been remanded until Feb 17 for the murder investigation.