IPOH, Feb 28 — The remains of deputy public prosecutor Datuk Kevin Morais were finally laid to rest yesterday more than five months after he was found dead.

Hundreds of mourners paid their final respects to Morais, 55, at a memorial service at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Jalan Silibin.

His ashes were later interred at the columbarium of Our Mother of Perpetual Help Church in Ipoh Garden.

Leading the tributes was retired Federal Court judge Datuk Pajan Singh Gill, who delivered an eulogy to the man he described as “marching always in the ranks of honour”.

“It is with profound sorrow that we are here today mourning his passing. It is particularly painful for me as he worked as my deputy registrar in the Kuala Lumpur and Ipoh High Court between 1993 and 2001,” he told the congregation.

“It will be a long time before we find another like Kevin. His dedication to modesty, sincerity, impartiality and a sense of justice is the hallmark of a truly great mortal.”

While serving as a Federal Court judge, Pajan recalled making numerous attempts to have Morais transferred to the Judicial Department.

Wistfully, he added Morais’ superiors could not accede to the request at the time.

“I dare say, however, if he had been transferred to the Judicial Department, he had all the qualities to be appointed as a judge of the High Court of Malaya,” he said.

Present during the ceremony were Morais's younger brothers, Datuk Richard and David.    

They appeared emotional when they left the church at the conclusion of the service at about 4.15 pm.

Morais’ childhood friend, Lt Cdr Christi Nathan, 51, said he had many fond memories of him when they were growing up in Ipoh during the mid-1970s.

“I was living in Silibin and he was staying in Lim Garden. We used to meet up every week for church and play around this very area,” he said, pointing to the compound of the church.

“Even then, you could see there was something special in him. He had an air of leadership, and it seemed like he was born with it.

“He always wanted to help and he was someone who truly stood for justice. I am really going to miss him.” 

In a case that shocked the nation, Morais' body was found in a cement-filled oil drum in Subang Jaya on Sept 16. He had been reported missing on Sept 4.