GEORGE TOWN – Penang police have confirmed that the man found dead on the ground floor of The Palazzo Condominium in Pulau Tikus yesterday did not have drugs or alcohol in his system.
State deputy police chief Datuk Fisol Salleh said initial investigations found that the man was in good health and there are no indications of mental illness.
“Preliminary investigations found that the victim was in good health, and the autopsy report found that the cause of death is serious injuries suffered from falling from a tall building.
“Police have classified this case as sudden death due to the evidence found,” he told a press conference at the Penang police headquarters today.
Fisol said police have recorded statements of the victim’s wife, 55, and her two children, aged 24 and 21, and are checking footage from all closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in the condominium building.
He said the wife told police that the victim did not exhibit any strange behaviour or leave behind any notes prior to the incident.
He added that the 53-year-old victim is believed to have jumped from the balcony of his residence on the 16th floor and fallen into the swimming pool while his family were sleeping.
“The victim once told his wife that he had been detained by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to assist in an investigation. That’s all.
“CCTV footage did not show any movements of outsiders.”
Fisol, however, said police cannot reveal the identity of the victim due to investigation ethics in cases classified as sudden death.
“This press conference was held to provide clarification on this matter. We hope the public does not speculate and respect the family’s rights.”
Yesterday, The Vibes had reported that a prominent developer was found dead on the ground floor of his luxury residence at The Palazzo condominium in Pulau Tikus here.
The developer, sources say, was Ewein Bhd president and group managing director Datuk Ewe Swee Kheng.
Speculation was also rife that Ewe might have sold much of his company shares in the days leading up to his death.
He had been expected to testify on November 29 and 30 at the Kuala Lumpur sessions court as a prosecution witness in former finance minister Lim Guan Eng’s graft trial.
Meanwhile, it is understood that Ewe’s body will be brought to the Batu Gantung crematorium here today for a private wake attended only by his family members.
The funeral is expected to take place tomorrow. – The Vibes, October 6, 2021
