KOTA KINABALU: The police believe no criminal elements were involved in the missing Italian financial advisor in Lahad Datu.
Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Jalaluddin Abdul Rahman said initial investigations did not indicate any criminal elements involved and believed William Bocchi, 52, might have met with some business contacts.
“He (Bocchi) is a businessman and maybe he met up with some business contacts,” he told a press conference at the state police headquarters in Kepayan yesterday.
Bocchi, a financial advisor cum compressor salesman was last seen checking out of the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel in Sandakan on Oct 14.
He had earlier checked into the hotel on October 13 around 9.25pm.
Investigations also revealed that he was sighted at the Lahad Datu bus station to Sandakan.
Immigration records also indicate it was his first visit to Sabah. Bocchi was reported missing by a businessman friend, Sia Yiik Huon in Lahad Datu after friends of Bocchi in Kuala Lumpur and Italy contacted him to inform the former that he had failed to return to Italy on Saturday.
He last contacted a friend in Italy on October 13, while in Lahad Datu but did not disclose the reason for his visit.
Bocchi entered Malaysia through Kuala Lumpur International Airport on October 12 and went to Lahad Datu the following day on the 1.05pm flight from Kota Kinabalu.
Meanwhile, Jalaluddin said CCTV recordings at the hotel and bus station indicated that Bocchi was alone.
“We urge anyone with information on the whereabouts of Bocchi to immediately come forward,” he said, adding that Bocchi’s picture had been sent out to all police districts.
Jalaluddin added that the Italian embassy in Kuala Lumpur had informed Bocchi’s family and an attaché would be coming to Sabah soon to follow-up on the case.