5-hour police search for underwear-clad man in drain ends fruitlessly

SINGAPORE: The police launched a five-hour search yesterday (May 25) for a man believed to have been seen in a drain wearing only his underwear. The search involving Gurkha officers ended up fruitless, although authorities recovered items from the drain that suggest the man had been staying there.

The police were alerted to the case after a passerby chanced upon a man in a drain on Hume Avenue in Hillview this morning when he noticed a light shining out of the drain.

Initially thinking it could be workmen conducting repairs, he decided to investigate further. Surprisingly, he discovered a man wearing only underwear shining a light into his luggage through the drain. Concerned by the unusual sight, the passerby promptly contacted the authorities, resulting in the dispatch of eight police cars to the scene.

The informant, 50-year-old Victor Ilano, told TODAY that the police promptly cordoned off the area and launched an extensive search for the man.

By noon, waste management workers had successfully removed various items from the drain, including two chairs, a mattress, a black suitcase, and a brown bag. The police meticulously examined the retrieved belongings and confiscated the items for further investigation.

The man remains unfound, despite the five-hour search by the authorities.

The incident has left many nearby residents astounded and concerned about the nature of the situation. The police have yet to provide further details regarding the case, leaving the community speculating about the circumstances surrounding the man’s presence in the drain.