Published: Friday February 8, 2013 MYT 3:57:00 PM
Updated: Friday February 8, 2013 MYT 7:42:37 PM

Claudia’s body to arrive in Malaysia on Saturday

By FARIK ZOLKEPLI

*A funeral mass will be said at 10am on Monday, at the Church of Visitation, Jalan Yam Tuan, Seremban

PETALING JAYA: The body of Malaysian journalist Claudia Theophilus, who was killed in Baakleen, in the mountains of Lebanon will be flown back on Saturday.

Umno Youth public complaints bureau chairman Datuk Muhammad Khairun Aseh said the body is expected to arrive at KLIA on Saturday evening.

He explained the Umno Youth Mission team led by the bureau's assistant director Khairil Anuar Ahmad arrived in Beirut on Feb 5 to assist and facilitate the repatriation of the body.

“Claudia's body was identified by her sister, Dora, at a hospital in Baakleen, some 90 minutes from Beirut.

“The mission team also seeks further clarification from Lebanese police and their statements were also recorded,” he said in a statement Friday.

In complying with the family's wishes for the body to be repatriated soonest, Muhammad Khairun said the mission team applied to the court and a meeting was convened between the team and the presiding judge in chambers.

“Our application was granted and the court also ordered the police to return all belongings of the deceased despite those categorised as evidences in an ongoing investigations,” he said.

He added success of the mission would not be possible without the support of Theophilus's family as well as the Malaysian Embassy in Beirut and Wisma Putra consular division.

It was reported that Claudia, 42, was a producer with Al-Jazeera English Online. She died at about 2.30am (8.30am Malaysian time) on Feb 2.

Meanwhile, her sister Dora who will be bringing the body back, said in a statement to the press on Friday, that Claudia's funeral would be held on Monday.

A funeral mass will be held at 10am, at the Church of Visitation, Jalan Yam Tuan, Seremban and the family requested that all media representatives and friends proceed direct to the church to pay their last respects.

The statement also said that it was also the wish of family-members not to be photographed or included in video/TV recordings during their time of grief.

”We request that no such image are published, broadcast or posted online, including on social media such as Facebook.

”We are grateful for all the help, support and kindness shown to us by everyone who shares our loss, and we hope you will continue to keep Claudia in your prayers,” the statement.

News

Published: Friday February 8, 2013 MYT 3:57:00 PMUpdated: Friday February 8, 2013 MYT 7:42:37 PM

Claudia’s body to arrive in Malaysia on Saturday

By FARIK ZOLKEPLI

Published: Friday February 8, 2013 MYT 3:57:00 PM
Updated: Friday February 8, 2013 MYT 7:42:37 PM