FAREWELL TO A HERO: Acryl paying his last respects to Benet.
KUCHING: The body of late Inspector Benet Pawun, who died in Timur Leste on Feb 7, finally arrived home and will be laid to rest at the Kampung Mayang Kawan cemetery.
The funeral service will be held at St Theresa’s Church, Serian at 10am today (Feb 19).
Benet, who served with the United Nations Police (Unpol) for a 12-month mission in Dili since Oct 13, 2011 was found dead in his quarters.
Put under autopsy and international quarantine procedures in Australia, his remains were held up for 10 days before being flown home.
His wife Clare Baor, 51, six children aged 17 to 32, and other family members wept tears of sorrow and relief when their hero finally came home just before 5pm yesterday,
In a full ceremonial arrival conducted by the police and Unpol officers, Benet was given the last respects by guests who included Serian MP Datuk Richard Riot Jaem, Tebedu assemblyman Datuk Michael Manyin and state police commissioner DCP Datuk Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani.
“Documentation is being made by Bukit Aman ceremonial branch to channel to Clare US$50,000 in compensation from the United Nations,” said Acryl who lay the wreath on Benet’s casket yesterday.
Acryl also handed Clare a RM3,000 donation from the police.
According to Acryl, the cause of Benet’s death was uncertain, pending the post-mortem results of tests being conducted by doctors in Australia. The United Nations was prepared for the outcome.
Less than 10 deaths have been recorded among Malaysians serving under the UN in the past 20 years or so.
“It is an isolated case, and should not be worrisome or bring down the morale and performance of our serviceman,” Acryl said, adding that no one should be blamed for it. Also present were state deputy police commissioner Datuk Law Hong Soon and Datuk Seri Raml Sha’ari.