SEREMBAN: Police have recorded statements from 15 people, including the mother of two young siblings who drowned after the car they were in plunged into Sungai Linggi in Port Dickson.
Negri Sembilan police chief Dep Comm Datuk Alzafny Ahmad said a post-mortem on the remains of the siblings, aged six and eight, confirmed drowning as the cause of death.
ALSO READ: Siblings drown after car falls into Sg Linggi
"We have interviewed the victim's biological mother as well as witnesses who were at the scene as part of the probe.
"The post-mortem results also showed there was no criminal force used on the victims," he said in a statement on Monday (Sept 8).
DCP Alzafny said they needed more time to wrap up investigations before the findings are forwarded to other authorities.
He also urged witnesses to come forward to assist the police in the investigation.
The state Islamic Affairs Department was also investigating the religious status of the victims, he added.
The siblings were resting in the car with their 46-year-old father and a 41-year-old woman along the riverbank before the incident on Thursday (Sept 4).
ALSO READ: Duo remanded seven days over drowning of two children
Preliminary investigations indicated that the man left the car, which was parked below the Tanjung Agas bridge, to smoke.
The engine had been turned off at the time of the incident.
The car suddenly began rolling towards the river.
Passers-by managed to pull the woman out in time, but the children were trapped inside.
The children's remains were found in the front passenger seat of the overturned vehicle at a depth of four metres.
The car's windows were closed while the driver's door was open.
Following the incident, police detained the couple to assist in investigations under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.
They have been remanded until Sept 11 to assist in the probe.
A background check on the man revealed he had 16 previous cases and is on the wanted list for four.
Checks also revealed that the car involved in the case had been reported stolen.
