Huntley dead for more than three days when remains found

KUANTAN: Gareth David Huntley, the Briton whose body was found in the Mentawak River, Pulau Tioman last Wednesday, had been dead for more than three days when his remains were discovered.

This was the finding of a postmortem conducted on the 34-yearold volunteer at the Kampung Juara Turtle Conservation Centre whose decomposed body was found by a search and rescue team at the Juara Lagoon chalet in Kampung Juara.

Nevertheless, Pahang police chief Datuk Sharifuddin Ab Ghani said, the cause of death had not been determined as several aspects leading to the demise were still under investigation.

He said this had ruled out speculation by the foreign media which claimed foul play in Huntley’s death.

“We have left it to the hospital to conduct a post-mortem. To date, the cause of death is undetermined and needs further investigation.

“Don’t bother about the foreign media. Our findings are based on medical experts and the law. In the investigations carried out at the scene, to date, there is no element of crime,” he said.

Sharifuddin was speaking to reporters after opening a blood donation programme, jointly organised by the police and Malaysian Armed Forces under the Blue Ocean Strategy, in conjunction with the 207th Police Day celebrations here yesterday.

On May 27, Huntley was reported missing after trekking alone to the Lubuk Teja waterfall about noon.

On Monday, his body was claimed by his family and is in the process of being sent to Britain for the funeral. — Bernama