KENINGAU: The decomposing body of a 79-year-old man was recovered on the banks of Sungai Matanoi near Kampung Ritting, here, on Monday night.
It was learnt that a village chief found the body when he was inspecting gravity pipes. He then contacted the police at 9pm to inform them about the discovery.
District police chief Deputy Superintendent Nor Rafidah Kasim said a man claimed that the victim was his father.
"According to the man, his father (the victim) is believed to have been missing since Feb 7.
"However, no missing person's report was lodged because the man thought his father had entered the forest to get produce and fish.
"It was the victim's habit to spend three to four days in the forest," she said in a media statement today.
Nor Rafidah added that initial investigations revealed the victim may have fallen while fishing by the river at a spot 50m away from his house.
The body was found 100m from where the victim may have last been.
She said the man may also have been swept away by the rushing river water, as it was raining heavily at the time.
"Checks at the scene and on the victim's body did not show any criminal element," she said, adding the case has been classified as sudden death.
