DNA TESTING: Huntley’s mother has provided blood sample

PULAU TIOMAN: POLICE yesterday recovered a smartphone, believed to have belonged to missing British backpacker Gareth Huntley, not far from the spot where the body of a man was found near Sungai Mentawak in Kampung Juara here.

State police chief Datuk Sharifuddin Abdul Ghani said the iPhone was found at 12.30pm yesterday by police personnel who were scouring the area near the river for clues.

“We are searching the area for more clues, including identification documents, to identify the body.

“The search-and-rescue operation in Kampung Juara has been halted. However, police personnel are stationed in the area to search for further evidence,” he said at Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital’s (HTAA) Forensics Department in Kuantan yesterday.

Sharifuddin said despite completing the post-mortem yesterday, the pathologist had yet to identify the cause of death and would conduct further examinations.

“An autopsy was performed on the body, but the hospital could not ascertain the exact cause of death. Further investigations will be conducted before we can conclude the cause of death.”

He said the blood samples from Huntley’s mother, Janet Southwell, were sent to the Chemistry Department in Petaling Jaya.

The results are expected within two days to establish if the body is indeed Huntley’s.

Southwell, who arrived at HTAA from Pulau Tioman about 11am yesterday, was accompanied by British High Commission vice-consul Karen Song and Huntley’s girlfriend, Kit Natariga Panyawatcharakun.

The trio were taken to the hospital’s Emergency Department where Southwell provided a blood sample for DNA purposes.

They would be staying in Kuantan to assist in investigations and return to London after the body is identified.

The body was brought to the Forensics Department at 12.35am yesterday after being airlifted from Pulau Tioman late on Wednesday night.

-NST