MIRI: Did Australian tourist Andrew Gaskell actually enter the Mulu National Park, prior to his disappearance on Oct 20?
Doubts have been raised over Gaskell's disappearance, following the discovery of his camping gear and other essential items at a friend's house.
Police are also sceptical that an SMS Gaskell purportedly sent to his friend, did indeed originate from him, given the odd discrepancies in the language.
Marudi police chief Deputy Superintendent Gabriel Risut said Gaskell had registered himself with the Mulu National Park management on Oct 18, about 8.30am.
"He was supposed to have entered the heritage site on the same day.
However, checks suggest that Gaskell never made it into the park," said Gabriel.
Instead, Gaskell supposedly sent an SMS to his friend Timothy Baling, a local, that he was entering the park on Oct 20 and would return the following day.
Gabriel said the authenticity of the SMS appeared dubious, as it did not appear to be in Australian English.
"The message said Gaskell would be staying overnight at the park. However, his belongings such as a sleeping bag, tent, canned food, cereal and biscuits were still at Timothy’s house.
"Were he to set up camp in the park overnight, why would he leave behind all his gear?" said Gabriel.
Police have now expanded their scope of investigation from a missing person's case to other aspects, including robbery and even murder.
“Although there is a possibility that he had gotten lost in the park, fell down somewhere, or even drowned, we are not ruling out the possibility him having been robbed or murdered, especially if he had lots of Australian currency or cash with him,” he said.
Gaskell, from Queensland, had arrived in Sarawak early August and was travelling around the main cities and remote areas throughout the state before taking a flight to Mulu on Oct 18.
A police report was lodged on Thursday (Oct 27) by Timothy’s brother as they had been unable to reach Gaskell since Oct 20.