Body of North Korean construction worker found in Batang Samarahan

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KOTA SAMARAHAN: The body of a North Korean worker was recovered yesterday, two days after he was believed to have fallen from a barge at a bridge construction site here.

The deceased, identified as 44-year-old Pak Song Guk, was found floating in the river at Kampung Baru by a search-and-rescue (SAR) team comprising Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) personnel, police, Civil Defence Force and local villagers.

District police chief DSP Lee Chong Chern said Pak, who was employed as a construction worker at the site, was last seen on Monday when he was lifting plywood onboard a barge next to a bridge pillar.

“The victim was last seen around 5.15pm that day before going missing.

“A police report was made after initial efforts to locate him failed,” he said when contacted.

Lee added that a SAR operation was launched at 8am yesterday and the body found downstream of  Batang Samarahan about three hours later and positively identified as that of Pak by his co-workers.

“The body has been sent to the Sarawak General Hospital in Kuching for a post mortem to determine cause of death.

“The case has been classified as sudden death pending the outcome of the post mortem.”