MIRI: Grave robbers have desecrated at least 20 graves at a cemetery near Rumah Ampik in Lambir.

The sacrilegious act was discovered by the longhouse chief when making his security rounds in the area yesterday.

According to a source, the tuai rumah stumbled upon some freshly-dug soil near one of the graves, and upon investigation, he was surprised to see that someone had actually desecrated the grave.

And when he started to investigate further, it was found at least 22 graves had been destroyed by some people, apparently looking for valuables buried together with the dead.

The longhouse chief believed the tombs had been raided for a couple of days.

However, nobody had noticed of any suspicious activity around the area as the cemetery was covered with overgrowth.

It was also not immediately known who were buried in the desecrated tombs.

The thieves, it was said, broke the coffins and stole valuables such as gold and other jewellery which were buried together with the dead according to traditional burial rites of the Iban community.

The longhouse chief has lodged a police report at Miri Central Police.

Soon after receiving the report, a police team went to the cemetery to investigate.

No arrest has been made in connection with the case and the police are still investigating.

Those who have family members and relatives buried in the cemetery are urged to come forward to identify the damaged tombs.