Police investigating mysterious death of Saudi tourist in Malatehotel

Police are looking into the cause of death of a 48-year-old Saudi Arabian tourist who expired while entertaining a woman-visitor inside a hotel room in Malate, Manila past midnight yesterday.

Chief Inspector Juanito Taluban, chief of the Western Police District-Homicide Section, identified the fatality as Ahmad Saud al-Marwan, a retired employee of Saudi Aramco Oil Co.

Investigators found the dead Al-Marwan on his back in bed with both arms half-stretched sideways. He was clad in a brown and light blue striped Arabian gown and white short pants. Police found no signs of external body injury.

Investigation showed Al-Marwan arrived in the country last May 26 and occupied Room 301 of the Pearl Garden Apartel at 1700 M. Adriatico st., Malate, Manila. Two days later, the victim transferred to the seventh floor of the hotel to avail of a lower room rate.

Police said that at 10:50 p.m., Haylin Palmagil, 19, a saleslady at the Chiez Emporium in Raon, Quiapo, arrived at the victim's room looking for her friend Michelle. Palmagil told police she and Michelle had agreed to meet at the victim's room.

Palmagil said the victim entertained her and ordered food for her and beer for himself.

According to Palmagil, the Arab rested in bed after consuming the bottle of beer. After eating her food, Palmagil said she approached the Arab to bid goodbye, but he failed to respond.

Sensing trouble, Palmagil said she called the attention of the male occupant of the adjacent room who found that the victim was already dead.

Police and the vice consul of the Saudi Embassy, Essa Yousef al-Duhailani, arrived at the scene and took custody of the victim's belongings.

The cadaver was transferred to a police morgue for autopsy to determine the real cause of the victim's death. --