Where is Michael? Missing Australian Citizen.

[wim00]

I've been asked to help find a missing person who was last seen in KL in 1998. His wife was resigned to the fact that he was 'no longer with us' and recently went to the coroner in Australia to make it official.

She was stunned to learn that someone had tried to renew his passport in 2001 at a passport office in KL. At the moment she cannot get the passport photo or the application form from the Australian government because of 'Privacy Laws' so has no idea if it was Michael himself trying to renew the passport or not. There is now a lawyer on the case so hopefully this information will soon be forthcoming. Michaels wife also has an appointment this week with Kirsten Livermore, the local MP, who can hopefully get the information released from the Australian Embassy.

Here is a link to the AFP (Australian Federal Police) website with a photo of Michael ....
http://www.afp.gov.au/national/missing/profiles/overseas/cahill,_michael_desmond

and a link to the Hansard Report of the Australian Government ...

http://www.aph.gov.au/hansard/reps/dailys/dr170805.pdf

(Page 173 of the pdf file or page 153 of the printed report).

Michael was a very 'gregarious character' who worked in the mining/construction industry and would be pretty difficult to miss or forget if you had ever met him.

There are some suggestions that he may have been associating with someone working in the hotel trade.

I've put up a website at http://www.wim.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk which has a better resolution photo than the one at the AFP site. (Click for full size).

More later - please ask around.

Wim.

[bugbear]

Now...what are we poor soul on this web site can do to help? Surely it is beyond us mere mortal?

[Vixey]

Never know Bugbear...somebody somewhere recognizes him. Just imagine how the wife feels, not knowing if he is alive or whether he IS alive and has purposely put her in this misery.

So even if there is someone out there, who has seen him, at least the people who care for him have a clearer picture of what's going on.

If my loved one was missing, I would his/her info out in any place I can find and under any rock that has even the remotest possibility of offering some help.

Anyway, I suggested our forum for Wim to post this as I know we have a wide network of contacts etc here who might be able to help in someway or another.

[wim00]

Thanks Vixey, this is what I am trying to do for Michaels' wife, Sheila. I have just got off the phone with my mother in Australia & she has just come back from the village and has said that Sheila is really heartened by all the help that she is getting. (The police have been less than brilliant, the coroner turned up the info that someone had tried to renew the passport and now the embassy won't release the photo!).

I've posted on 3 Malaysian forums and one in Thailand and have had loads of feedback. Sheila is very greatful.

I really hope that a chance viewing on a forum gets her some concrete leads or just some more good ideas on how to proceed.

Thanks all - Wim.

[emw]

Hi Wim,

Suggest you post your message to http://www.alloexpat.com as well as lots of foreigners trawl that place for recommendations for plumbers, clothes shops etc.

Good luck!

Ellen

[emw]

Also try the Sarawak, Sabah etc forums at http://www.malaysiantalk.com.

A thought: a letter to The Star complete with pictures may get her some national coverage. But she has to send proof she is his wife (copy of marriage certificate) and that he's missing (copy of police report) and that his passport was up for renewal here (copy of coroner's report) etc.

Cheers,
Ellen

[alexhay]

wim,

also post at http://www.pjnet.com.my/forums.html

cheers

[wim00]

Thankyou all,

I'm registering feverishly now! It's getting quite a task to monitor all of the forums but I have it all covered :)

I have been kindly given the details for the NST and the Star but Sheila has asked me to hold off on any media contact until after the outcome of a meeting arranged for this week with Kirsten Livermore, her local MP. (Very useful details of the sorts of info the newspapers need before they go ahead and publish).

Great response,

Regards - Wim.

http://www.wim.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk

[Vixey]

Hi Wim,

Did you get the message I sent you with the contact details for MCA Public Services? That's a good place to start once Sheila decides on media exposure.

Btw..told you my neighbourhood people are great at giving leads and suggestions. ;)

Cheers,
Vix

[wim00]

Hi Vixey,

I have got all the MCA details - many thanks. Sheila has decided she wants to go all out on the media front (I just came off the phone with her this morning). She is still very cut up about the whole situation ... how she has been left for seven years thinking he was dead only to find out that the authorities have sat on the information that he may be alive and will not let her see it for herself.

I will get in contact with the MCA and the next task is the NST to see if they are interested.

Will keep you posted - thanks again - Wim.