Gruesome accident: 3 die after heads SLICED OFF

Two men and a woman, believed to be Indonesians, were killed in a gruesome accident when the top of their heads were sliced off by a boat's engine propellers.

The accident occurred when the tekong (boat captain) tried to speed off in an attempt to escape an enforcement team.

The victims were walking in waist deep water in near total darkness when the incident occurred several metres from Pantai Ladang Rusa, Batu Layar near Sungai Rengit here about 12.30am yesterday.

It had yet to be ascertained whether the victims were trying to sneak into the country or were attempting to make their way back to Indonesia when they were killed.

It is learnt that at the time, several immigrants were making their way from sea to land, while some were heading from land to the waiting boat, which was fitted with three 200 horse power engines.

The three victims were walking waist-deep in water when the tekong noticed the approaching enforcement officers' torch lights.

The tekong, who had turned off the boat's engines, panicked and began tugging to turn the engine back on. It was then that the propellers sliced the victims' heads, killing them instantly.

With the propellers jammed, the boat came to an abrupt stop and the tekong abandoned the boat and jumped into the sea.

Region II (southern) Marine Police deputy commander Superintendent N. Kalai Chelvan said marine officers later helped several of the immigrants ashore. Police found no travel documents on the victims and they had yet to be identified.

In the operation, 45 immigrants were rounded up, including 36 Indonesian men and eight women, and a Pakistani man.

All were detained at the Sungai Renggit police station, where their statements were recorded, while the bodies of the victims were sent to Kota Tinggi Hospital.

Kalai Chelvan said investigations were underway to establish if the tekong was among the 45 immigrants in custody.

He said the Region II Marine police had detained 259 illegal immigrants and charged 27 under the Anti-Trafficking In Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act this year.

- NST