During a hot pursuit by police, a drug suspect jumped into a river in an attempt to escape arrest and subsequently drowned on 13 January at Kampung Bekok, Hulu Besut in Malaysian Sultanate of Terengganu.
The body of the 27-year-old accused, identified as Muhamad Ekraam Maidin, was recovered from the river at 9.50pm, following which an autopsy was conducted. However, no criminal element was found in the body.
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"He was involved in a car chase with police around 5.20pm when he suddenly stopped by the roadside and ran out towards a bush near a river. Seeing police approaching, he jumped into the river and swam to the middle," said Besut District police chief Supt Mohd Zamri Mohd Rowi, according to Bernama.
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"After police called out to him to turn back as the river was wide and the water was deep, he appeared to heed and swim back to the riverbank. But about 50 metres from the bank, he disappeared," added the police officer.
It was also reported that police searched the Perodua Axia car driven by the suspect and recovered 1,200 horse pills weighing 119.64g and nine packets of syabu weighing 5.72g worth RM13,080.
After an initial investigation, it was revealed that Maidin had been convicted thrice before for drug abuse.
