A grim discovery was made in Sabah after skeletal remains believed to belong to a missing 10-year-old boy were found along a riverbank in Keningau.
The remains are believed to be those of Muhammad Aidan Ridwan Abdullah, who was reported missing after a drowning incident just days earlier.
Found after strong odour detected
Reported by Buletin TV3, police said the remains were found after a man fishing in the area noticed a strong smell and went closer to inspect the riverbank.
Keningau District Police Chief Superintendent Yampil Anak Garai said authorities received information about the discovery at 9.17pm, before a team was dispatched to the scene.
Believed to be victim of earlier drowning case
Initial investigations found that the remains are believed to be those of the boy who was reported to have drowned on March 24 at Sungai Pagalan in Sook.
The location where the remains were found at Sungai Sigapon is estimated to be about 23 kilometres from where the victim was first reported missing.
Police also revealed that the skeletal remains were not complete and are believed to have been partially consumed by wild animals.
The remains, along with fragments of skin and tissue, were collected and sent to the Forensic Unit at Hospital Keningau for further action.
Identified by mother through dental structure
The boy’s identity was later confirmed by his mother at around 3pm on the same day.
She was able to identify the remains based on the structure of his teeth.
Grandfather was also found dead earlier
The incident traces back to March 24, when the boy and his 60-year-old grandfather, Fredoline Yariki, were reported missing while checking on a boat at Sungai Pagalan near Taman Bersatu in Keningau.
The grandfather was later found drowned at Sungai Banjar in Mempikit the following day at around 5.21pm by villagers.
Meanwhile, the boy was believed to have been swept away by the current before his remains were eventually found days later at Sungai Sigapon.
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