Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said investigators are looking into every possible lead to rule out sabotage, reported The Star yesterday.

“To eradicate sabotage, we had to find out who prepared the food,” he said.

Australia’s Sydney Morning Herald said the Malaysian police were doing this to rule out if the food served on the aircraft was poisoned but Khalid did not elaborate on the latest sinister aspect.

Khalid had said that the police managed locate the source of the local seasonal fruit to an orchard in Muar.

“We tracked down to who plucked the fruits, who packed and shipped them out, and who put them on the plane,” said Khalid, according to the daily.

“Then, we had to see who was to receive them in China and who paid for it, and how much.

“Imagine how many people we must interview to rule out sabotage. And, that is just for mangosteens,” he said.

The IGP added that police have “cleared” all 227 passengers on board MH370 on hijacking, sabotage, psychological and personal problems but are still interrogating families of the 12-member crew, including the pilot and the first officer.

Khalid said the police officers probing the case, classified as criminal investigation, have recorded statementa from 170 individuals to date.

“Give us more time. We may not even know the real cause of this incident,” he appealed to the aggrieved families and the public.

Ten planes and nine ships from over 12 countries are searching the vast stretch of the Indian Ocean looking for the Boeing 777-200ER widebody aircraft, as authorities concluded its journey ended in the Indian Ocean after disappearing on March 8.