Headline and story updated with additional details as at 8:58pm.
By Ling Hui
KUCHING, March 13: Missing four-year-old boy Eric Chang is believed to have been already dead when his body was placed in a polystyrene box and dumped at Muara Tebas Wharf on Sunday (March 6).
Police investigations found surveillance footage from a restaurant in Muara Tebas, showing Eric’s caretaker and husband carrying the polystyrene box to the pier at about 9pm that night.
The couple even brought along their own child while trying to get rid of Eric’s body, according to a news report by Sinchew Daily Malaysia.
Since 2pm today, a Kuching District Police crime investigation team has been at the site conducting their investigation while Acting Kuching District Police Chief Supt Merbin Lisa was there to direct the investigation.
Marine police boats were also despatched to conduct a search of the vicinity.
Eric, was reported missing from Taman Riverview, Bintawa on March 7 while under the care of a friend of Eric’s mother, Dynasty Chang.
On March 11, four suspects including Dynasty were detained to assist the investigation, with the four reported to have accumulated 17 criminal records.
Meanwhile, the police released a statement today at 8pm confirming they are reclassifying the investigation from under Section 31(1)(1) of the Child Act 2001 for negligence and neglect of child care to Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.
The statement also revealed that search efforts were being expanded around the Muara Tebas River and the vicinity with the assistance of Region 5 Kuching marine police and external agencies including the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA).
The police also advised the public to refrain from speculation as the case is still under investigation. — DayakDaily
