Autistic boy’s body seen floating in river

May 10, 2011

Tuesday May 10, 2011

Autistic boy's body seen floating in river

SUNGAI SIPUT: The body of autistic and hyperactive boy Muhammad Azfar Muhammad

was found floating in Sungai Perak here yesterday after he went missing on

Saturday. He is the son of former model Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarnor.

The nine-year-old boy, who also suffered from mild cerebral palsy, went missing

from his maternal grandfather's chalet at Jawang near here.

His body was found by rescuers led by Kartika's older brother Muhammad Hatta at

1.30am about 1km from the spot where the boy was believed to have fallen.

When met at the Sungai Siput Hospital mortuary, Muhammad Hatta, 37, said he

decided to comb the area near the river after the water level suddenly receded

after midnight on Sunday.

He and some villagers had combed the area since 1am yesterday in two boats.

" About 30 minutes later, we found Muhammad Azfar's body floating with his feet

stuck in the water. I quickly informed the Fire and Rescue Department who

brought the body out, " he said.

Kartika, 33, said her son was last seen watching television with his cousins on

Saturday.

" When his uncle came into their room, he was nowhere to be seen, " she added.

Muhammad Azfar's body was claimed by his family at noon yesterday and buried in

Kampung Jawang.

Kartika courted controversy when the Kuantan Syariah High Court ordered her to

be caned six times and fined RM5,000 for consuming alcohol at a hotel in

Cherating on July 11, 2008. She paid the fine.

Her caning sentence was later commuted to three weeks community service at the

Tengku Ampuan Fatimah Children's Home in Alor Akar, Kuantan.

Her former husband Muhammad Affandi Amir, 39, said he last met his son in April

when Kartika brought Muhammad Azfar to visit him in Singapore.

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