Family accuses Malaysian police of ignoring new clues in disappearance of Annapuranee Jenkins
Adelaide grandmother Annapuranee Jenkins vanished in Malaysia more than two years ago. Now a good samaritan has sent her family vital evidence that could unlock the mystery.
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The family of an Adelaide grandmother who disappeared in Malaysia has accused police of failing to investigate her suspected death after human remains and personal possessions were discovered on a multimillion-dollar development site.
Annapuranee “Anna” Jenkins, 65, was visiting her sick elderly mother when she vanished in mysterious circumstances in suburban George Town, Penang Island, on December 13, 2017.
In a significant development, the family has received photographic evidence of Mrs Jenkins’ belongings and several human bones partially buried just 500m from her last known location.
But Royal Malaysian Police correspondence obtained by the Sunday Mail reveals investigating officers initially denied any existence and then claimed only male human remains were found.
Mrs Jenkins’ family wants forensic testing of the bones and possessions, which were initially found on the site of a $107 million exclusive villa development in March.
They fear police, who on Friday confirmed they had now taken custody of the possessions and visited the construction site, will destroy crucial evidence.
That includes a blue top Mrs Jenkins was captured wearing by a security camera on the day she went missing.
The footage was recorded outside Hotel Jen, where Mrs Jenkins was staying, as she headed to Goh Dental Surgery. A hotel keycard and dental appointment card were found at the site.
Photos of the remains and possessions also show what Mrs Jenkins’ family says are her items including a Clare Country Club pen, rosary beads, glasses case, asthma inhaler and eye drops.
Mrs Jenkins’ son, whose job prevents him being identified, said police were immediately made aware of the discovery but did not declare a crime scene and discarded most of the bones.
He said a concerned local, who tracked him down through missing persons posters, sent him a message on June 14 with photos from the site of bone fragments and possessions.
“The handbag had a mixture of Malaysian and Australian coins and the bulk of the cash was missing,” the son told the Sunday Mail.
“We’ve deduced from what (mum and dad) had in the safe and what they took over there that there was about $1000 and $2000 Malaysian ringgit ($680) missing from her handbag.”
The son said Mrs Jenkins used the money for her dental treatment and for donations to the aged-care home that looked after her sick 101-year-old mother, who has since died.
Mrs Jenkins, of Glenelg South, caught an Uber after her dental appointment – the same surgery she had visited since 2012 – to make the journey to Little Sisters of the Poor aged-care home.
But the driver told police Mrs Jenkins requested he stop at the intersection of Scotland Rd and York Rd, Scotland Gardens, about 4km from her original destination.
The driver said he pulled over 100m down the road at Ramakrishna Ashram orphanage, where Mrs Jenkins got out. It was her last known location.
Husband Frank Jenkins, 78, twice visited the aged-care home, where staff told him they had not seen his wife. He reported her disappearance to police.
Mrs Jenkins’ family has made numerous mercy dashes to Malaysia in a desperate search for their mum but say they have been hindered by inaction from authorities.
The son suspected his mum had met with foul play. “Police are disregarding the correlation between the remains found with mum’s possessions and clothing in the same area,” he said.
Royal Malaysian Police on June 16 told the family, via the Foreign Affairs and Trade Department, that no remains had been found near the Penang Turf Club.
However, six days later, investigating officers provided a conflicting report when they claimed the human remains of a male had been found at the location.
“With the Royal Malaysian Police, we don’t know if it’s apathy, ignorance, incompetence or a combination of all three,” the son said.
“We want police to acknowledge there’s been no investigation and pursue this lead.
“The only way police will keep investigating is for the person who sent us the messages to come forward but he is fearful.
“We’ve tried to convince people to go to the police but pretty much everyone for the past 2 ½ years says they don’t trust the police.”
The son said the remains and possessions were vital in helping provide closure for the family.
“If the police get it we fear they will do exactly what they did with the bones and get rid of it,” the son said.
“To us it’s like the needle in a haystack we’ve been searching for the past 2 ½ years. We didn’t know where the haystack was or if there was a needle in the haystack.”
Mrs Jenkins’ daughter, Jen Bowen, said she believed the significant emotional stress caused by her mum’s disappearance had contributed to the ailing health of her dad.
Ms Bowen said her dad was last year diagnosed with breast cancer while also suffering from dementia and thoracic spinal deterioration.
“Knowing what happened to mum would allow us to feel at peace and us some closure,” Ms Bowen said.
“It’s heartbreaking on so many levels, particularly for dad who has spent more of his life with mum than without her.”
Ms Bowen said Royal Malaysian Police did not appear to put a value on her mum’s life.
A Foreign Affairs and Trade Department spokeswoman confirmed it was providing consular assistance to Mrs Jenkins’ family.
“We are assisting the family with their liaison with the Royal Malaysian Police,” the spokeswoman said.
The Sunday Mail tried to contact Royal Malaysian Police by phone and email.
