MIRI: A group of fishermen here made a big catch on Saturday morning – but it was not of something they would ever want.
While on their way out to sea at 7.45am, the fishermen spotted a sack floating in the Miri river near Kampung Pulau Miri.
Upon closer inspection, they found to their horror that the sack contained the body of a woman. The body had been wrapped from waist to head in a fertiliser gunny sack which was tied in place with rope.
The stunned fishermen immediately alerted the authorities to their find.
A state Fire and Rescue Department spokesman said a team of eight men was despatched to the scene to fish the body out of the river, before it was handed over to the police.
The body is believed to be of a woman in her 30s, with long hair. It is understood that the remains had begun to decompose, with skin on some parts of the body beginning to peel off.
“Although no external wounds were found on the body, based on how the body was found (wrapped and tied), the case has been classified as murder. But a post-mortem will need to confirm this.
“(No) valuable belongings or personal documents were found on the remains, therefore, we are urging (anyone with information on the case) or with a missing family member to come forward,” Miri deputy district police chief Superintendent Stanley Jonathan said when contacted.
He said the body was taken to the Miri Hospital and a post-mortem will be conducted once the victim’s next-of-kin comes forward.