KOTA KINABALU: A five-year-old autistic boy who was reported missing from Tamparuli five days ago has been found dead Thursday (April 24) afternoon.
The body of Muhammad Aniq Faiz Muhammad Ashraf was discovered at around 12.20pm, some 3km from where he was reported missing on April 20.
State Fire and Rescue Department officials said personnel who were conducting the water rafting search saw the boy’s body stuck by the riverbank.
Tuaran Fire Station chief Mohamad Nor Amit said prior to the discovery, rescue personnel started their operation at 8.35am, together with officials from other agencies.
The search radius had widened since the first day of operation, he said.
Mohamad said medical officials on site pronounced the victim as deceased before the body was handed over to the cops for further action.
Operations on site ended at 1.15pm.
The boy was reported missing outside the Tamparuli district office at 1.52pm, April 20.
A search involving rescue personnel, sniffer dogs, and villagers, was then mounted.
