Motorcyclist found dead in drain with vehicle after nine days

PUTATAN - A boat assistant who had been reported missing for the past nine days was finally found dead in a drain on Jalan Kota Kinabalu-Papar near Lok Kawi Camp on Tuesday.

The body of Sefuan Taha, 33, was found with his motorcycle by a lawnmower driver who was on duty in the area at about 8am.

Penampang District Acting Police Chief Deputy Superintendent Sammy Newton said that he had received a report on the discovery of the body from the public at 8.30am.

"Preliminary investigations into the incident suggested the victim, who was riding a motorcycle from Kota Kinabalu going towards Papar, had lost control over his vehicle.

"The victim's motorcycle then skidded into the left side of the drain, and the victim died at the scene of the incident. His body was later found by a janitor in the area," he said in a statement on Tuesday.

He said that his family members had also previously reported that the missing victim did not return home.

"The victim's body was sent to the Forensic Department of Queen Elizabeth I Hospital (HQEI) for an autopsy, and the case was investigated under Section 41 (1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.

"Any witnesses to this incident are urged to come forward to provide information immediately at the nearest police station.

"The public is also asked not to spread pictures of the victim at the scene of the incident or unauthentic facts to protect the family's sensitivity," he said.

Sinar Harian reported last Sunday that the victim, who worked as a boat assistant at Jeti Sutera Harbour in Kota Kinabalu, could not be contacted and had not returned home since July 23.

The police, family members, and co-workers of the victim are actively trying to locate him.