Kneel down, bang! bang!: Autopsy report of 3rd victim to be unveiled

The post-mortem report on the third victim killed in a police shoot-out in Glenmarie, Selangor will be released by the lawyers for his family on Thursday. With the release of the final autopsy finding, the families of the three victims will lodge a police report calling for a murder investigation.

According to human rights lawyer Latheefa Koya, who is also the PKR legal affarirs director, a press conference will be held after the report is lodged at the Petaling Jaya police headquarters at 11 am.

Shamil Hafiz Shapiei, 15, Hairul Nizam Tuah, 20, and Hanafi Omar, 22, were gunned down by police after a high-speed car chase in Glenmarie, Shah Alam in the wee hours of the morning.

Based on the autopsy findings of Shamil and Hairul, the youths were believed to have been forced to kneel before they were shot in cold blood. The autopsy findings indicated the shots were at close range and the gun pointed downwards at their heads and chest regions.

The final report on Hanafi has just been released and a copy obtained by his family. It is expected to be even worse than the other two, confirming growing public concern that Malaysia's controversial police force has grown out of control and have begun killing with impunity.

PKR vice president N Surendran has demanded that all the police personnel involved in the shooting be charged under s.302 Penal code for premeditated murder.

"We view the call for an inquest by the police as another delaying tactic intended to deflect public anger following yesterdays revelation of the post-mortem findings," Surendran had said.

"We are also surprised and shocked by the police claim that the investigation into the shooting is still not complete. Considering that seven months have passed since the shooting, this is clearly another excuse and attempt to delay taking any action the policemen involved. We also call for charges to be brought under s 203 Penal Code against all police officers, no matter how high-ranking, who gave false versions of this incident to the public."

So far, the police have recommended to the Attorney General to hold an inquest on the Glenmarie shootout. Police have also insisted their investigations were pending, but PKR leaders have lambasted them for the delay as nearly 9 months have already elapsed since the boys were slain on November 13. With the third autopsy report out, there is no further excuse for the police to delay, said PKR leaders.

“We will submit the papers to the DPP's office as soon as we complete investigations,” Selangor police chief Tun Hisan had told the press in June.

But sad to say, no further action has been forthcoming from either the police or the AG so far. The families have objected to the inquest proposal, insisting it would only cause further daelay. They want a murder probe to be started immediately.

Shamil

According to the forensic report on Shamil, he had two wounds consistent with gunshot wounds, the first injury mark on the forehead, and the second, on the right side of the chest.

“Both gunshot wounds entered 45 degrees into the back and right side of the body. There were no signs of self-defence,” the report said, adding that there was gunpowder residue on the chest wound.

According to the chemist report, there was also gunpowder residue on the victim’s jacket.

Hairul

As for Hairul, the cause of death was gunshot injuries to the head and chest.

‘“Post-mortem examination showed that he received two shots, one at the left side of the head and exit at the right side of the head. The other shot was on the front part of the left side of the chest and exit at the back of the right side of the chest," said the report.

“The weapon used was from a single-fired rifled weapon such as a pistol. There was no evidence to show that the weapon was fired during contact or at near distance."

45 degree angle

According to Surendran, it shows that Shamil Hafiz was kneeling or squatting when the shots were fired from a higher direction. "Only that explains why it was 45 degrees."

As for Hairul Nizam, he said the doctor who examined his body found that the bullet track was directed “inwards, downwards, and to the right”.

“Again, Hairul must have been kneeling and the shot came from top. So, that means they were arrested, taken into custody and then executed. Scientific evidence is clear,” said Surendran.

Dubious explanation, major cover up

Surendran had also slammed acting Selangor police chief A Thaiveegan for his dubious explanation that the victims had rushed at the cops, pointing the contradictions as evidenced in the post-mortem report.

“If the police are rushing from the front, how can the bullet enter the side of the head. So the medical evidence is completely contradictory to what the police claim and we’re talking about Datuk A Thaiveegan, acting police chief, unless the bullets can bend and hit the head,” said Surendran.

Hanafi's report to be made known

Hanafi's post-mortem has taken the longest to be published. However, the family has sighted the body and said there were two shots — to the side of the head and one to the torso.

“The clear scenario that emerges is all three were arrested or were taken into custody. They were then made to kneel, whatever it was, at a level lower than the shooters. They were then shot, executed by the police officers,” said Surendran. - Malaysia Chronicle