Nirvana says stolen urns recovered

 The funeral services provider says the recovered urns are undergoing 'verification, inspection and proper reinstatement'.

Funeral services provider Nirvana Asia Group said the theft of the urns from its memorial parks did not appear to be random or isolated acts, but rather premeditated and organised. (Nirvana Asia Group pic)

PETALING JAYA:

 Funeral services provider Nirvana Asia Group says it has recovered urns stolen from several of its memorial parks.

In a statement this evening, the company said the recovered urns were undergoing “verification, inspection and proper reinstatement”.

“In order not to prejudice ongoing investigations and out of respect for the privacy of the families concerned, further details will not be disclosed at this time.

“We will continue to engage directly with affected families to ensure that all necessary follow-up arrangements are handled with care and sensitivity.”

The company also said the urn thefts did not appear to be random or isolated acts, but were premeditated and organised.

It said similar crimes targeting funeral institutions had been reported in various countries and regions in recent years, including in Hong Kong and South Korea, and were believed to be related to Cambodian scam syndicates operating in the region.

“These heinous acts constitute serious criminal offences and a severe violation of the dignity of the deceased and the rights of their families.

“Moving forward, we will continue to work closely with the police and industry stakeholders to address this matter and uphold public confidence in the bereavement service industry.”

Nirvana Asia Group also urged members of the public and the media to refrain from disseminating unverified information to avoid interfering with ongoing investigations or causing further distress to affected families.

The company said it would update the affected families on any developments.

On Tuesday, Bernama reported Nilai police chief Johari Yahya as confirming that a report had been lodged over the theft of 30 urns containing human ashes from the columbarium of a memorial park in Nilai.

He said the cemetery management had received a call from an international number, with the caller allegedly demanding a ransom in exchange for the urns.

Police are investigating the case for theft, extortion and trespassing in burial grounds.

The incident in Nilai follows the theft of more than 20 urns from a memorial park in Kulai on March 6. - FMT