Police believe body found in Subang Jaya is Anthony Morais

Police believed they have found the body of missing-turn-abducted deputy public prosecutor, Anthony Kevin Morais, in Subang Jaya this morning.

Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department director, Datuk Seri Mohmad Salleh said they found the body cemented in a drum barrel that was dumped in Jalan Subang 3 in USJ.

“After 13 days of investigation, we finally achieved a breakthrough in the case, much helped by new leads gathered recently including a CCTV footage obtained from Jalan Duta, KL.

“We got the help of the Fire and Rescue Department and pathologists to assist in the process of unearthing the body, which began around 8am today,” Mohmad told reporters at the scene.

However, he said, further identification process on the body will be carried out during the post-mortem by Kuala Lumpur Hospital pathologists around 2pm today.

Suspects arrested

Mohmad said the discovery of the body was made possible following the arrest of seven suspects in Rawang and other areas in the Klang Valley yesterday.

The police were then led to the swamp area where the body was dumped.

He said the police detained seven people – five men, a woman and a child – but they believed the woman and child have no involvement in the case.

“The men are aged between 22 and 52 years old. Among them, only one had a past criminal record under Section 29(1) of the Minor Offences Act 1955 for failure to provide explanation on goods owned.

“The rest of the suspects, we will check if they have been involved in any D7 or gangsterism activities,” said Mohmad, adding that police will apply to remand the suspects for the maximum period, 14 days, starting today.

Items seized

Mohmad said police had seized several items in connection with the case. The items were seized in Penang and the Klang Valley beginning yesterday.

Those seized in Penang included a Mitsubishi Triton vehicle, believed to be used to ram into the victim’s vehicle; a Honda Accord believed to be used by one of the suspects, and cash amounting to RM17,100.

In the Klang Valley, items seized were a Proton Persona owned by one of the suspects; cash totalling RM15,000, and a receipt for purchasing cement, gravel and sand. The hardware is believed to be the items used to compress the body in the drum barrel, said Mohmad.

The hardware were purchased in an area nearby where the body was dumped, he added.

Motive

Mohmad said the motive in this case is believed to be linked to a Shah Alam courts case two weeks ago involving a Malaysian military doctor embroiled in corruption.

“We believe Morais was the DPP involved in the case. His case has no relations to the Ambank founder's murder case that was speculated before,” he said.

To a question, Mohmad said the military doctor was among those arrested yesterday.

He added that more arrests will be made soon.

At the time of his death, Morais was the Appellate and Trial Division deputy chief of the Attorney-General's Chambers. Prior to that, he was with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.

Morais was reported missing by his elder brother, Datuk Richard Morais, on Sept 5, a day after he was last seen.