KUDAT: A body found on the beach at Balambangan Island here yesterday morning was believed to be a 10-year-old boy who was reported missing and feared drowned near Kampung Nanamun in Kota Belud on Nov 2.
Kudat police chief DSP Dawi Ossen, however, said it was still too early for the police to confirm as they were waiting for DNA test as well as the boy’s identity.
Villagers who found the body around 10.30am informed the police immediately.
“The body has been taken to Kudat Hospital for investigation and DNA test,” he said when contacted yesterday.
Dawi said the police could not verify the victim’s identity as the body has decayed after being in the water for several days.
On Nov 2, 10-year-old Muhammad Syahmi Hariadie was reported missing and feared drowned while picnicking with his classmates and a teacher at Kampung Nanamun in Kota Belud during the school holiday.
Muhammad’s friends and teacher only realized that he was missing when they were getting ready to leave the area around 5pm.
Search and rescue operations were carried out since but were called off several days later after failure to locate the victim.
Meanwhile, Dawi said the police were waiting for Muhammad’s family members from Kota Belud to help identify the body.