Body of drowned commando flown to Tongod, Sabah

SHAH ALAM: The remains of Malaysian Armed Forces commando Lance Corporal Edrin Baintim, 25, who was found in the mangrove area of Tanjung Sepat, Selangor, on Sunday (Feb 19), were flown back to Tongod, Sabah this evening.

His brother Muhammad Fikri Abdullah, 41, said his brother's body was flown from the Subang Air Base at about 5:30pm and the flight is expected to arrive at the Sandakan airport about two hours and 45 minutes later.

"Upon arrival, the remains of Edrin will be taken to our family residence in Kampung Maliau, Tongod.

"A total of 16 people, including siblings and immediate family members will accompany the deceased to Sabah in a Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) plane," he told Bernama.

The post-mortem conducted on his body at the Banting Hospital was completed at 2pm Monday.

On Feb 7, Edrin, 25, a member of the army’s special forces unit, was reported missing while undergoing diving training about 0.7 nautical miles south-west of Pulau Undan.

The victim is said to have disappeared during the Pari Harimau diving exercise he was attending, which comprised six officers and 37 participants from the Sg Udang Special Warfare Training Centre.

His body, clad in a diving suit, was found in a mangrove swamp at Batu 8, Kg Batu Laut, Tanjung Sepat, Selangor by members of the public at about 10.30am Sunday. - Bernama