KUALA LUMPUR – The successful recovery of a 17-year-old British teenager, missing for three months, was the result of a delicate and thoughtful approach by the police, authorities confirmed.
Police said the careful handling of the case prioritised his privacy, safety, and mental well-being, ensuring a positive resolution.
Kuala Lumpur Police Chief Datuk Fadil Marsus told Scoop that David Renz Galletes Balisong was found on September 4 at a hotel in Jalan Pudu and was later reunited with his mother. After medical checks, he was confirmed to be in good health.
“The boy will be repatriated to Britain as his visitor visa expires today. Our priority was to ensure he was safe, healthy, and in the right state of mind before taking the next steps,” Fadil said.
He added that cases like this remind authorities of the importance of not rushing to conclusions or jumping to criminal assumptions. “Not every disappearance is linked to crime. Sometimes young individuals make decisions that put them in vulnerable situations without fully understanding the risks involved. Our role was not only to locate him but also to guide him back to a safe environment.”
The police operation was carried out with sensitivity, ensuring Balisong did not feel threatened during the process. “We wanted to avoid alarming him. Our officers spoke to him calmly, explained who we were, and reassured him that his safety was our sole concern,” Fadil added.
Balisong, from Cheadle, Greater Manchester, left his home on June 6, travelling alone to Kuala Lumpur. He turned off his phone upon arrival and had minimal contact with his family. His last communication was an email to his mother on July 9, in which he asked her not to worry and apologised for his decision to leave.
Following a tip-off from social activist known as ‘Uncle Kentang’, whose real name is Chee Heng Kuan, a team from the Kuala Lumpur Police Headquarters Special Investigation Unit (D9) located the teenager at 5.17pm on Wednesday.
Selangor Police Chief Datuk Shazeli Kahar said preliminary investigations revealed Balisong had stayed at multiple locations across Kuala Lumpur, relying solely on cash from the UK.
“The discovery of the teenager allows us to carry out further investigations to ensure his welfare,” Shazeli said. He also thanked the public for their concern, urging against speculation that could compromise the dignity of those involved. – September 6, 2025