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Missing wealthy national found dead in manhole

SHARJAH — The body of a wealthy UAE national, reported missing on March 27, was found under "mysterious" circumstances in the manhole of his own house located in the Samnan district of Sharjah.

Rashid Ibrahim, aged 70, was reported as missing to the Sharjah police last week, even as anxious friends and relatives continued their desperate search for him in local hospitals and contacted all possible sources to try and trace his whereabouts.

The police, who carried out an extensive search for the missing man, were eventually informed of the discovery of his body in the manhole of his own house. What led to the discovery was the foul smell which had begun to spread in the immediate vicinity of the manhole - and into his house as well.

Police sources said yesterday that they received a phonecall, last morning, in their operations room from one of the deceased's relatives informing them about the tragic discovery. The police emergency team immediately rushed to the spot and recovered the body of the old man from the manhole with great difficulty.

The police is now investigating the cause of death. The preliminary report of a forensic doctor states that the old man's hip was broken and that his skull too had suffered damage as a consequence of internal bleeding.

Speaking to Khaleej Times, M. S., a relative, said that Haji Rashid Ibrahim was a millionaire who also owned many properties. He was a man who enjoyed a lot of goodwill, and as a philanthropist donated extensively to charity organisations and helped the poor and the needy and everyone who approached him.

Ibrahim is survived by three sons and two married daughters.

“There is arguably a certain mystery behind his death", M.S. added, "because he was healthy and fine. He was not suffering from any kind of mental problems or physical ailment. The last time the old man was seen by his family was after he had lunch and informed them that he was going for a walk. His children were very worried about him and searched him every where in the emirate.”

The relative said his children got worried when they discovered his passport in his room. In case he had suddenly decided to leave the country, they speculated, his passport would have been found on his person. However, he added, "We don't suspect anyone for killing him or causing him any harm as he was so well loved by everybody.”

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