NEPALESE MAN FOUND DEAD ON TOP OF COCONUT TREE

BUKIT MERTAJAM (Penang, Malaysia), Jan 13 (Bernama) -- A Nepalese man, who
arrived here recently to work at a sawmill, was found dead on top of a coconut
tree in Kampung Tok Musa, Machang Bubuk here, about 12 hours after he climbed up
the 50-metre tree.

An officer of the Bukit Mertajam Fire and Rescue Department Rejab Ahmad said
villagers saw the body of Danbar Tamang, 30, this morning.

Nine firemen, who were dispatched to the scene at about 10am, took some time
to bring the body down because of the height of the coconut tree.

"They had to seek assistance from a villager who is adept at climbing," he
told reporters here.

He said firemen found strangulation marks, believed to be from a belt, as
well as wounds and insect bites on his body.

"His body was brought down at 1.30pm and sent to the Bukit Mertajam Hospital
for a post-mortem," he said.

Meanwhile, a police spokesman said they were investigating the case as
suicide.

He added that villagers told police Danbar climbed up the tree at about
10.30pm last night.

They tried to coax him down but he refused, he added.

Several people went to the area this morning and saw his body in sitting
position on the coconut top and called the police.
-- BERNAMA