Inquest: Police confirm receiving missing persons report

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GEORGE TOWN: North East police head quarters investigating officer Asp Ibrahim Husin told the Coroners Court yesterday that the police had received a missing persons report on the day after the collapse of the lightning arrestor on Menara Umno, Jalan Macalister due to heavy rains and strong wind.

Ibrahim, the 24th witness in the inquest to verify the death of Lim Chin Aik, 44 who is believed to have been buried at the site of the lightning arrester collapse at Jalan Macalister, said the report was lodged by the victim’s wife Lee Chai Song, 48, on June 14 2013.

The inquest is being held to enable the National Registration Department to issue a death certificate and facilitate insurance claims by his family.

“The victim’s wife made the police report when her husband did not return after he left to pick up their daughter from school,” he said Coroner Khairul Anuar Abdul Halim yesterday.

He said 27 witness statements had been recorded during the investigation process, including from the victim’s friends as well as visits to several places frequented by Lim.

“The information we gained showed that the victim was not seen anywhere in those areas on that or the day after,” he said.

Meanwhile, another witness, North East Traffic head quarters investigating officer Insp Mohd Izarrie Shafie verified that the car number plate found during the excavation at Jalan Macalister matched the chassis number of the vehicle which was buried at the site.

“The number plate was in pieces and matched the chassis number of the vehicle which was buried there. A few other car components and four tyres still attached to their rims were also found,” he said.

The mishap which occurred about 6.30pm on June 13 also claimed the life of foreign worker Jahir Sulaiman, 46, when the lightning arrester collapsed on the lorry he was in with another worker.

Khairul Anuar is assisted by deputy public prosecutor Lim Cheah Yit while lawyer Naveen Singh is representing the victim’s family and lawyer Abdul Fareed Abdul Gafoor appeared for JKP Sdn Bhd, the owner of Menara Umno.

On Oct 28, the court will make a visit to the scene of the incident at Menara Umno, the North East police head quarters and the durian stall at Jalan Macalister. — Bernama