Azmir (second left) waiting for Fire and Rescue Department personnel to fished out the victim’s body (red circle) out from the mangrove swamps at Kampung Lembising in Ketiau, Putatan yesterday.
The victim found wrapped in a blanket and floating in a mangrove swamp at Kampung Lembising yesterday.
PUTATAN: A semi-naked woman was found dead in a mangrove swamp at Kampung Lembising, Ketiau here yesterday evening.
The body of the victim, believed to be in her 20s, was clad in underwear and wrapped in a blanket. It was found in the mangrove swamp by villagers just after 6pm yesterday.
Penampang police chief DSP Azmir Abdul Razak, when met at the scene, said initial police investigation indicated the victim had been dead for more than three days before her body was found.
“It is still early to determine the identity of the victim as there was no document found onn the body.
“Her face and body were unrecognizable as it had decomposed with numerous bite marks believed to be caused by monitor lizards in the swamp,” he added.
Azmir said the victim’s body was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for autopsy.
“We will only know the result, cause of death and identity of the victim after we have received the autopsy report from the hospital.
“At the moment, police will investigate the case under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder,” he said.
Azmir urged anyone with information of the case to assist police in their investigation.
He also urged anyone with a lost relative to come forward or contact the Penampang police hotline at 088-712 222.