Body in Sungai Perias might be that of missing Orang asli pupil

The decomposed body of a girl found in Sungai Perias near Pos Tohoi, Gua Musang yesterday, may be that of one of seven Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Pos Tohoi pupils who went missing in August.

Family members identified the victim as Sasa Sobrie, eight.

Kelantan police chief Datuk Mazlan Lazim said the next-of-kin based the identification on birth marks.

"However, a DNA test will still be carried out to verify the victim's actual identity before the body can be claimed by the family," he said.

He was speaking to reporters after attending a meeting between the Crime Prevention and Community Security Department and Eastern Zone Police Volunteer Reserve Corp (SSPDRM) at the Kota Baharu police headquarters here today.

The meeting which was opened by the department's director, Datuk Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani was also attended by about 300 reserve corps officers and personnel from Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang.

About 7 last night, a villager stumbled upon the decomposed remains of a girl in Sungai Perias, about 500 metres from Pos Tohoi.

Mazlan said based on the discovery of the body, the police would now focus the search and rescue direction on the river, as well as deploy divers from various agencies.

In GUA MUSANG, Gua Musang Hospital director Dr Nik Mohd Faizal Zainal Abidin said the post-mortem conducted last night found the girl had died about one to two weeks ago.

On Aug 23, seven orang asli pupils comprising six girls and a boy, aged between seven and 11, ran away from the SK Pos Tohoi school hostel for fear of punishment by a teacher after they were found swimming in a river without permission.

They are Juvina David, seven; Linda Rosli, eight; Sasa Sobrie, eight; Ika Ayel, nine; Haikal Yaakob, eight; Norieen Yaakob, 10; and, Miksudiar Aluj, 11.

They are from Kampung Gawin and Penad.