Body of missing man found in Sungai Petani canal

SUNGAI PETANI: The body of a man missing for 10 days was found in a canal at the junction of Jalan Sungai Lalang-Bukit Selambau near here, at 7.30pm Thursday (Jan 26).

Kuala Muda OCPD Asst Comm Zaidy Che Hassan said that the local man is believed to be a 42-year-old labourer who was reported missing 10 days ago.

"At around 7.30pm last night, the police received a report about the discovery of a body along with a motorcycle in a drain.

"Preliminary investigations found that the victim is believed to have lost control of the motorcycle before crashing into the drain on the right side of the road,” he said in a statement Friday.

Zaidy said that the depth of the canal, at 3m, made it difficult for the victim to be seen by passers-by and get help during the incident.

He said that there were skid marks on the right shoulder of the road believed to be due to the impact of the incident, and an interview with the victim’s next of kin found that he was last seen on Jan 9.

"The next of kin also confirmed that the motorcycle found was often used by the victim,” he said.

He said that the remains of the victim were taken to the Forensic Unit of the Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital (HSAH) for a post-mortem and the case was being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987. - Bernama