KOTA KINABALU: A 52-year-old Italian was reported missing after he failed to return from a trip to Lahad Datu on Oct. 16. State Police Commissioner Datuk Jalaluddin Abdul Rahman identified the man as William Bocchi, who had last made contact with his friend known only as Fabio on Oct. 13. He said a search was mounted after a missing persons report was lodged by one, Sia Yiik Huon, a manager at the MP Machinery at the Lahad Datu Police Department at about 5.27pm on Sunday.
ADVERTISEMENT
"Sia claimed that at about 1pm on Oct. 18, he was informed by his friend in Kuala Lumpur, known as Liaw, about an email from an Italian, one Fabio, telling him that Bocchi has not returned to Italy as scheduled. Liaw asked his friend to help trace the whereabouts of their Italian friend who was believed to be in Lahad Datu.
Liaw claimed that Bocchi was involved in financial services and was also a compressor product salesman. Bocchi was said to have flown to Lahad Datu to meet a client. "Preliminary investigations showed that Fabio's last contact with Bocchi was on Oct 13, where Bocchi told him that he was in Lahad Datu. However, he did not specify the exact location and reason for being there," said Jalaluddin, Monday.
ADVERTISEMENT
Immigration records showed that Bocchi arrived at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal Two on Flight AK187 at about 10.56pm on Oct 12. "He arrived in Lahad Datu from Kota Kinabalu via MASwings flight MH3016 at about 1.05pm on Oct. 13," Jalaluddin added.
ADVERTISEMENT
A team from the Lahad Datu Criminal Investigation Department assisted by the Special Branch and other units are currently tracing the whereabouts of the missing man.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
He said among places searched are hotels, airports, hospitals, motels and resthouses, Tabin Resort as well as Danum Resort. Jalaluddin said he has not received any information thus far to suggest possible kidnapping nor his exact last known whereabouts.
