KUBANG PASU: The search for the body of 62-year-old Felcra pensioner Sabari Baharom, who was tied and gagged before being thrown alive into Sungai Padang Terap, has ended after three days.
His wife, Shubiah Ruslina Shahibi, 57, said she was informed of the development last night, but the family plans to visit the site at the Kampung Empa Bridge in Derang, here today.
The three-day search, which covered a 13-kilometre stretch, yielded no new leads, prompting the authorities to call off the operation yesterday evening.
The New Straits Times has reached out to Kedah police chief Datuk Fisol Salleh for confirmation of the operation's suspension but has yet to receive a response.
Meanwhile, Shubiah earlier stated that the family has come to terms with the reality that her husband's remains may never be found.
On Sept 30, police reclassified the case as a murder investigation following the arrest of two prime suspects, a 38-year-old contractor and his nephew, aged 26.
Kedah police chief Datuk Fisol Salleh reportedly said the suspects admitted to binding Sabari's hands, taping his mouth, and throwing him into the river.
Earlier, police detained a 62-year-old woman to assist in the probe after it was discovered that there were suspicious money transfers from Sabari's account, following his disappearance.
It was reported that the Felcra financial officer retiree could have been a victim of a robbery that went awry.