By Alesha Capone
Homicide Squad detectives have released new information as part of their investigation into the death of Shu Jian Lim, whose body was found dumped in Mount Cottrell almost five years ago.
University students were conducting research at the creek at Cobbledicks Ford Reserve, near Dukelow Road, on September 17 in 2015, when they came across a black wrapped-up plastic sheet on a sandbank about 1.15pm.
They contacted police, who subsequently determined the wrapped up sheet contained the body of an unknown person.
A post mortem was conducted and it was determined the body was that of an Asian male.
A number of public appeals were conducted in the days following the discovery, however police were not immediately able to identify the deceased.
Homicide Squad detectives made a number of enquiries to try and determine the identity of the body, including looking at missing persons cases.
In October 2015, a DNA test was conducted with a relative in Malaysia and the deceased man was formally identified as Shu Jian Lim.
The 26-year-old Point Cook man was reported missing by his sister in March 2015.
Lim was last seen at a friend’s house at Covent Gardens in Point Cook on February 20, 2015.
Police have been told he left the property about 5pm in his silver Toyota sedan with the Victorian registration XHS 070.
This car was later found on Allen Street, Laverton after it was reported to police by a local resident as being dumped there.
At this time, Lim had not been reported missing.
On March 5, 2015 Lim’s vehicle was still parked in the street with registration plates 1EB 8ZD and was seized by police.
Police were told an unidentified Asian male, believed not to have been Lim, was seen parking the silver Toyota in the street on or around February 20, 2015. This is the same date that Lim was last seen alive.
That person then got into a light coloured small 4WD, possibly a Toyota, driven by another male.
Lim’s wallet and phone were not in the car and have never been located.
Despite a five-year investigation, no-one has been charged in relation to Lim’s death and the investigation remains ongoing.
Detectives are today releasing CCTV from a nearby water treatment plant which shows vehicles travelling past one of the exit routes from the reserve.
They are hopeful that members of the public may be able to identify one of these vehicles and provide further information, including whether one of the vehicle’s belonged to Lim’s associates.
Police have also released images of Lim’s vehicle in the hope someone can provide information on its movements and who may have been driving it around the time of Lim’s death.
Officer in charge of the Homicide Squad, Detective Inspector Tim Day, said he was hopeful the passage of time would benefit the investigation.
“Five years is a long time to wait for a family to get answers, but we’re hopeful that five years is now the right time for us to get an answer,” he said.
“Investigators have conducted a number of enquiries over that time and spoken with a lot of people, however we haven’t reached the point where someone is able to tell us why Lim’s body was found wrapped in plastic on the side of a creek.
“This is a brutal way for someone to die and their body to be found.
“There are a number of Lim’s associates we have spoken to over the years and investigators are still not satisfied with their version of events.
“One avenue of enquiry for investigators has been that Lim’s death is possibly connected to a drug syndicate that was operating in the area at the time.
“Hopefully there is someone out there who feels that now is the right time to come forward and tell us why this happened and who is responsible.
“It doesn’t matter how insignificant your information might seem, it might be a critical detail for police.
“We do know that Lim was in Australia on an expired Visa and so if any of his friends or associates from that time are concerned about that fact, I would like to stress that information can always be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers.”
Police are also releasing a photo of Lim which was posted on his We Chat on the day he was last seen in the hope someone recognises him and can provide further details about his last movements.
Anyone with any information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report to crimestoppersvic.com.au
