Three men fishing at a water catchment pond near Durian Tunggal Dam in Alor Gajah were left shocked after discovering what appeared to be human remains inside a cement-filled drum at about noon on Sunday.
Alor Gajah district police chief Superintendent Ahmad Abu Bakar said police received a report after the anglers inspected the drum at about 11.40am.
The three men, aged between 25 and 35, had reportedly cut open part of the top of the drum when they noticed an object resembling a human skeleton and immediately contacted police.
“A team of police officers arrived at the location at about noon and conducted a physical inspection with the forensic team. Initial examination found a skeleton or bones believed to be human inside the drum,” he said when met at the scene today.
Ahmad said the drum was found about 15 metres from the main road, prompting police to call in the Fire and Rescue Department to help remove it from the area.
Initial checks also found a skull, while other parts of the skeleton could not yet be identified.
“The remains are believed to have been inside the drum for at least three weeks, based on the condition of the bones, which had become separated, as well as tissue that was still attached,” he said.
The drum had also been filled with cement, but the cement was believed to have deteriorated over time, causing the cover to come loose and allowing water to enter. This is believed to have accelerated the decomposition process.
The remains have since been sent to hospital for a post-mortem examination to determine the victim’s sex, identity and cause of death.
