Thieves strike at three cemeteries, at least 15 tombs desecrated
At least 15 tombs in three cemeteries in Riam for Dayaks, Roman Catholics and Anglicans were desecrated by thieves in search of valuables.
A check at the cemeteries, which are located next to each other, found opened coffins as well as bone fragments and skulls strewn along the pavement along with miscellaneous items belongings to the dead.
Several tools such as screwdrivers and a hoe – believed to belong to the perpetrators – were left behind at the cemeteries.
The Dayak cemetery appeared to be the worst hit, with Dayak Memorial Park chairman Abin Galieh saying he received 12 reports of tombs being desecrated.
“This is not the first time this cemetery has been struck by thieves. Before this, they only desecrated two or three tombs but this time it involves 12, which is the most thus far,” he said when contacted.
Abin said he believed the tomb raiders were searching for valuables buried with the deceased, and urged the families of those buried at the Dayak cemetery to check on their tombs and report if any had been desecrated or ransacked.
Meanwhile, Juluie Brinau, when met at the Dayak cemetery, said she rushed over upon learning that several tombs had been desecrated.
“I came here with my grandson after seeing a post on Facebook that tombs here were ransacked. Indeed, there were attempts to desecrate my mother’s tomb based on the damaged tiles and marks on tiles,” she said, adding the thieves did not succeed.
She added that the last time she visited the cemetery was in June this year.
The desecration was first discovered by a 26-year-old man when he went to visit his grandfather’s tomb on Sunday, and found it had been vandalised.
He immediately lodged a police report in which he listed several items as missing from the tomb.
District police chief ACP Lim Meng Seah, who confirmed receiving a report on the incident, said police are investigating the case under Section 297 of the Penal Code for defiling a burial ground.