Missing ex-Special Branch officer found safe at Sugud plantation
KOTA KINABALU: A retired Special Branch officer, who was reported missing after dropping his wife off at Klinik Luyang on Wednesday, was found safe yesterday morning.
Andrew Wong Hin Kok, from Taman Towering, Penampang who turns 77 today, was found near a plantation at Kampung Sugud, Penampang, nearly 24 hours after he went missing on August 23 around 10.35am.
City police chief ACP M. Chandra said Wong was found by the plantation owner at around 10am.
"The plantation owner, Sylvester Jivoins, told police that he came across a car at his plantation and when he went to inspect found a man lying on the ground.
"Upon checking, he found the man was conscious but the car had broken down.
"Sylvester immediately contact the police for assistance," he said yesterday.
A team of police immediately rushed to the scene and brought Andrew back to the Karamunsing police station.
"According to a family member, Andrew suffered from short-term memory loss.
"When we spoke to him, he told police that he got lost while driving his car until he reach the plantation (at Kampung Sugud).
"Police also recommend that Andrew be taken to Hospital Mesra Bukit Padang for psychiatric observation," said Chandra, adding that the man was in good health.
Police also presented a souvenir to Andrew as a birthday gift as he turns 77 today.
The news of the disappearance of Andrew went viral on Facebook and Whatsapp after family members turned to the social media to seek help of the public in finding him.
Andrew was last seen in a Proton Wira car with registration number SA9013U, after dropping his wife at Klinik Luyang around 10.35am on Wednesday (August 23).
He then drove away to look for a proper parking space. Four hours later at around 2.30pm, the daughter received a telephone call from her mother asking to pick her up as Andrew could not be contacted.
Family and relatives then went around to look for him in vain, prompting them to lodge a police report.