The police and other agencies have brought the curtain down on their involvement in the search for the downed Eurocopter AS350 helicopter yesterday following the discovery of all six bodies.

State police commissioner Datuk Seri Muhammad Sabtu Osman said the Ministry of Transport would now lead efforts to recover the wreckage from Sungai Batang Lupar in Lingga with the use of a side scan sonar device belonging to the Royal Malaysian Navy.

“The joint search-and-rescue (SAR) operation will officially end at 4pm today (yesterday). Even though the SAR technically ended when the last body was found on Monday, the police and other agencies continued to lend a hand in trying to locate the wreckage following the arrival of the side scan sonar device,” he said during a press conference at state police headquarters yesterday.

Muhammad Sabtu added, however, that the device had so far failed to locate any sign of the downed chopper.

He also said the Fisheries Department had notified searchers of the presence of a crocodile sanctuary in the area (Pulau Seduku), meaning that those on the ground were prohibited from using firearms or explosives to protect themselves while diving in Sungai Batang Lupar.

“As you are all aware, many crocodiles inhabit the river and since we are not allowed to use any explosives, we cannot risk the lives of personnel and must therefore withdraw and rely on more advanced technology such as the sonar device to search for the wreckage from today (yesterday) onwards.”

He went on to express his gratitude to all agencies which took part in the joint SAR operation as well as local villagers who contributed their time and effort in helping to locate the crash victims.

On a related matter, Muhammad Sabtu said the body of the final victim, which was recovered on Monday, had been positively identified as Captain Rudolf Rex Ragas, the pilot of the ill-fated chopper.

“We have notified the Philippine embassy of the discovery. His relative has claimed the body from the Sarawak General Hospital mortuary for cremation in Bau, with his ashes scheduled to be flown back to his home country.”

The Eurocopter AS350 vanished from radar at Sg Batang Lupar in the Sebuyau-Lingga area at 4.32pm on May 5 while on its way from Betong to Kuching.

The passengers onboard were Datuk Noriah Kasnon who was Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities, Malaysian Palm Oil Board chairman Datuk Wan Muhammad Khairil Anuar Wan Ahmad, MPIC chief secretary Datuk Dr Sundaran Annamalai, Noriah’s husband Asmuni Abdullah and her bodyguard Ahmad Sobri Haron.

Source:
courtesy of THE BORNEO POST

by Borneo Post

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