Australian woman's disappearance in Penang leaves police baffled

GEORGE TOWN: Police are baffled over the disappearance of a 65-year-old Australian, who has failed to reunite with her husband after heading out for a dental appointment in Pulau Tikus 11 days ago.
In a tale which involved a ride-sharing operator, a charitable home for the infirm and an orphanage, Jenkins Annapuranee has now disappeared, prompting the police to recruit the media for assistance.
In the age of satellite tracking and personal locators, her disappearance was indeed baffling to police investigators here, and Interpol may soon be called in to check if she may have slipped out of the country.
Northeast district police head ACP Anuar Omar urged the media to spread news of her disappearance as her husband, family and friends were worried.
She was 165cm in height and weighed about 75kg, with a dark complexion.
Last Wednesday at 3pm, Jenkins left her hotel and husband to seek dental treatment at Goh Dental Surgery in Pulau Tikus.
Upon completion, she hailed a ride-sharing service provider with instructions to head to the Little Sisters of the Poor Home for the Aged in Batu Lanchang.
While en route, she suddenly told the driver to stop at the Scotland Road and Batu Gantung main traffic intersection.
The driver instead went into a compound near the Sri Ramakrishnan Orphanage to drop off the woman due to the busy oncoming traffic.
She then hurried out of the vehicle and within minutes, disappeared from sight.
Statements have been recorded from everyone associated with the case, and police have dispensed a circular to all personnel to be on the look-out for the woman.
But nothing has turned up, said Anuar.
Police urged those with information on this case to call them at 04-2181884.
On a separate issue, Anuar also revealed that police have resolved the case of the theft of a 91-year-old Sleeping Buddha statue with the arrest of a couple.
The female accomplice was detained on Wednesday night before she led them to the male suspect, who worked as an antique dealer, on Thursday.
Anuar said that the statue was also recovered and the couple will be remanded for several days to facilitate the investigation.
The couple was captured on CCTV stealing the statue from the Penang Buddhist Association at Jalan Anson here early last week.
The disappearance of the statue was only discovered almost 10 days later.
The Buddha statue, valued at RM10, 000, was placed at the common hall on a table for prayers.
The case is being investigated under Section 379 of the Penal Code for theft.