KOTA KINABALU: Police do not suspect foul play in the death of a self-styled prophet whose body was kept for 13 months in a Panampang house here by followers.
Although the post-mortem result is not out, Penampang police chief Deputy Supt Usat Madang said initial investigations did not show any criminal element was involved in the death of Ching Chi Vui @ Ivan, 37, from Tawau.
“They were no visible signs of injury to the body,” he said yesterday.
Police made the bizarre discovery in Taman Kobusak Villa on Friday following a neighbour’s complaint of “odd things occurring in the house.”
DSP Usat said three followers of the man – a 44-year-old woman and 26-year-old twin sisters – were released after police recorded their statements.
The man ran the little-known Benevolent Missionary Association, which is believed to be linked to a cult movement with roots in the Philippines.
It was reported that Ching had asked the three women, also from Tawau, not to bury him as he would be resurrected.
The women apparently conducted prayers daily and waited for him to come back to life.
The body, which was wrapped in plastic and a blanket, had already dried up and there was no smell, said DSP Usat.
Asked if there were other members in the group, he said police believed Ching had only a few followers.
The house was being rented by the group from a Tawau doctor.
The group owe the landlord rental amounting to about RM20,000 while the water and electricity to the house have been cut off.
Police found religious sayings written in Chinese in the house.
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