JERTIH: A man, who jumped into a river near the Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority complex in Seberang Kastam on Sunday night (Jan 5) to escape a police raid, was found drowned on Monday.
Acting Besut police chief DSP Md Sani Md Saleh said the body of the 45-year-old man was discovered at 10.25am, not far from where he was last seen.
"The victim, who was on a fishing boat docked by the jetty, jumped into the river upon realising the presence of a police team from the Besut District Narcotics Criminal Investigation Division conducting an operation in the area at about 7.45pm on Sunday.
"Members of the public tried to help him but were unsuccessful. The search and rescue (SAR) operation commenced at 8.30pm on Sunday and resumed Monday.
"The body was found at the river bottom by scuba divers from the Fire and Rescue Department. The body has been sent to the Besut Hospital Forensic Unit for a post-mortem," he said in a statement.
He added that investigations revealed the victim had 10 previous criminal records related to narcotics. - Bernama
