MALACCA, Malaysia - Two gravediggers had a rude shock when they uncovered a foetus buried at an illegal grave at the Jelutong Muslim cemetery, here, yesterday morning.

In the 9am incident, Zulzilan Bakar, 35, and his uncle, Md Said Bacik, 46, had just finished the burial of an infant when they noticed some loose soil near some graves.

"I saw the soil disturbed when we came into the cemetery this morning but did not give heed. However, after the burial ceremony I went to the area where the soil seemed to be freshly covered," said Zulzilan.

Suspecting something amiss, the man and his uncle began to dig and after a few centimetres, they found two plastic bags with something wrapped in white cloth that emitted a foul smell.

"We covered the hole with a piece of plywood and my uncle went to lodge a police report at the Ayer Keroh police station."

Melaka Tengah Criminal Investigation Department chief Deputy Superintendent Gan Chip Poh when contacted said that upon receiving the report about 11am, a team of policemen went to the area and removed the two plastic bags.

"In one of the bags we found a foetus which was about 4 or 5 months old while the other bag contained the placenta.

"We believe that the foetus was from an act of illegal abortion and had been buried at the cemetery either on Friday or Saturday," he said, adding that the foetus had been sent to Malacca Hospital.

Gan urged members of the public with any information on the case to contact Chief Inspector Lee Chan Shim at 013-3807113 or the nearest police station.

NEW STRAITS TIMES