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KOTA KINABALU – The Sabah Health Department denied allegations that it had removed internal organs belonging to an Indonesian man found dead on a ship here.
Director Datuk Dr Rose Nani Mudin said after the post-mortem was conducted on December 7 at Queen Elizabeth Hospital here, all organs had been returned along with the body of Sadiman Hamal, 38, who was found dead on December 1.
The post-mortem investigation confirmed that he had died due to a lung infection and heart disease, she said.
She said the forensic medical officer previously told the victim’s relatives that several small tissue samples from his organs would be sent to the laboratory to find out the cause of death.
“The hospital was informed by police that the victim did not have any next of kin in the country, but they managed to track down several individuals claiming to be Sadiman’s relatives – and know his next of kin in Indonesia – and one of them had identified the body,” she said in a statement yesterday.
Dr Rose Nani said the officer conducting the post-mortem had explained the results to the individual believed to be Sadiman’s relative, who would then pass on the information to the deceased’s next of kin in Indonesia.
She said Sadiman’s employer had arranged for his remains to be sent home, which arrived safely in Indonesia on December 20.
“Our sympathy goes out to his family. All post-mortem-related matters and the process of sending the body home had been carried out following set guidelines,” she added.
Indonesian media recently alleged that Sadiman’s internal organs had been removed before the body was sent to his next of kin. – Bernama, December 26, 2021