The remains of a Malaysian deputy public prosecutor abducted nearly two weeks ago on his way to work were found on Wednesday (Sept 16) in an oil drum filled with concrete in Subang Jaya, Selangor.
The police made the grisly discovery at around 6am after they detained a military doctor – the main suspect in Mr Kevin Morais’ abduction – who led them to the swamp where the body was found, Bernama news agency reported.
“The oil drum was found in the swamp after divers went in to confirm it,” said Federal Criminal Investigation Division director Mohmad Salleh, according to The Star daily. “A forklift was used to hoist the oil drum out so that work could be carried out to retrieve the body.”
Fire and Rescue Department officers opened the concrete-filled barrel to recover the body, which was wrapped in a gunny sack.
Six other people, including a woman and a child believed to be unrelated to the case, as well as the doctor, were taken in by police on Tuesday.
Mr Morais, 55, deputy chief of the Appellate and Trial Division at the Attorney-General’s Chambers, was reported missing on Sept 4 after he left his Menara Duta apartment in Kuala Lumpur to go to his office in Putrajaya. Police later confirmed he was abducted, based on a video-capture of a road in the city.
“Initially, CCTV footage showed that Morais’ car was trailed by a Mitsubishi Triton that rammed into his government-issued Proton Perdana,” Commissioner Mohmad told the media. “He was abducted after the collision and a suspect drove off with Morais’ car while he was taken away in the Mitsubishi Triton.”
Datuk Seri Mohmad added that the 52-year-old main suspect, head of the pathology and laboratory department who was said to hold the rank of colonel, was involved in a corruption case that was prosecuted by Mr Morais in Shah Alam recently. “We believe the other suspects were contracted by this suspect to kidnap him,” said the commissioner.
Police believe Mr Morais was killed in the Mitsubishi pick-up truck before his body was placed in a gunny sack and sealed with cement inside the oil drum, according to The Rakyat Post.
A Mitsubishi Triton that investigators believe was used to hit the victim, two other vehicles – a Honda Accord and Proton Persona – and RM32,100 (S$10,500) in cash have been seized as evidence.
Police are also investigating a burnt car that had its vehicle chassis and engine numbers filed off. It was found on Sept 6 near an oil plantation in Perak. Police suspect it was driven by Mr Morais on the day he was abducted.
His body was taken to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital mortuary for a post-mortem examination.
Speaking outside the mortuary yesterday, the victim’s brother, Datuk Richard Morais, described him as a “strict man” who lived for his job and the law, The Star reported. “He was a secretive person. He was very professional about his work. He didn’t share (details of his work) with his family members.”
But his brother added that “this is not a normal death… Everybody knows this was case-related”.
Source: www.straitstimes.com
