MH17: Looted belongings returned, says IGP

SEPANG: An undisclosed amount of valuables looted by certain parties from the crash site of MH17 in Ukraine were returned following pleas to do so by the authorities.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar (pix) said most of the belongings and valuables of the dead were missing from the crash site which covers an area of 15km near Petropavlovka village, Donetsk.
However, he said, many villagers and those who kept what they found at the site began surrendering the items to the authorities following the distribution of flyers that urged them to do so.
“The people in Donetsk gave us their cooperation after we distributed the flyers. Personal belongings such as rings, chains and other valuables were returned to the police teams stationed there.
"We (Malaysian team), too, found a few items at the scene and there were also some on the bodies. All these items will be sent to Amsterdam and will be processed with the identification of the remains,” Khalid said following his return from Amsterdam at 6am today.
Khalid, who headed a 87-man police team tasked to search the site and investigate the crash, returned with the last batch of 34 personnel after two weeks in Ukraine and Netherlands.
He said only 40% of the crash site was covered by the Malaysian police as security issues were an obstacle to the operation.
He said the skirmish between Ukrainian security forces and pro-Russian separatists had hindered the search operation by the joint-investigations team comprising Malaysia, the Netherlands and Australia.
“We were constantly watched over either by the Ukranian soldiers or pro-Russian rebels depending on the areas we were at. We just had no space to carry out our work without being watched over. Then there were clashes between both sides, there were missiles flying above our heads. We had to leave the area due to these security threats.
“However, if there is a need for us to return to the crash site then we will. Hopefully, the OSCE (Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe) will negotiate with the clashing parties and work out a truce for a period of time to enable the search and investigations to resume without hindrance,” he said.
Khalid said logistics was also an issue during the operation and Malaysian police had to rely on their Dutch counterparts for equipment.
He said a police officer will be sent and based in Kiev soon as a representative.
He said the officer will represent Malaysia and attend meetings and discussions with the authorities.
“MH17 was our aircraft and we need to have our officer there to keep us updated on the daily developments. I am proud to say that our team practised good work discipline and performed well, earning commendations from our Dutch and Australian counterparts,” said Khalid.
He said there are also five police officers who are based at Amsterdam currently to assist in the identification of the victim’s remains.
Asked on the yet-to-be announced findings of the preliminary report of flight MH17’s black box, Khalid declined to reveal the contents of the report, saying he will leave it to those tasked to do so.
“Although I am aware of it (early findings), we do not wish to say anything for now and allow the investigation team to reveal the preliminary report. They are in charge of the investigations and will make public the findings in stages,” he said.