By Jaythaleela K
MIRI, July 10: Miri police chief ACP Lim Meng Seah disclosed that the police are waiting for DNA test results concerning the identity of a body found floating in the Niah River earlier this month.
The results might take at least two weeks to be known, he told reporters after attending the monthly assembly today at Miri police headquarters.
“We are waiting for the DNA test results to determine the identity of the body which was found by two local fishermen hunting for crabs at the area,” he said.
The lower half of the body was discovered floating around 1.30pm on July 2 by the fishermen who later on alerted the police.
“The family of a missing elderly man who was reported missing on June 29 has submited DNA samples for analysis, and we have sent the samples to the forensics department in Kuching,” Lim said.
Meanwhile, he also revealed that the overall crime index in Miri for this year saw a drop from January to June 30 compared to the corresponding period last year.
Despite the overall reduction, the commercial crime rate has increased to 137 cases or by 162.7 per cent for January 1 to June 30 this year.
On this increase, Lim attribute it to the Internet which enables online criminals to prey on their victims from all over the world.
“The number of commercial crimes in the city has risen this year, and mostly it involves phone scams, e-commerce, or fake loans.
“We managed to solve 78 cases out of that 137 (cases),” Lim said.
He also revealed that violent crime over the same period this year recorded a drop to a total 75 cases compared to 82 in same period in the previous year, while property crime showed a decrease of 10 per cent to 353 cases.
A total of 256 police officers of various ranks were involved in the monthly assembly.
At the event, 48 personnel including two mobile police vehicle (MPV) personnel who were involved in a shooting incident with three robbers in Taman Tunku on May 16, Corporal William Bell Jol 55, and Constable Mohd Roni Manap, 26, received certificates of appreciations from Sarawak Police Commissioner, in recognition for their bravery. — DayakDaily
