Post-mortem: Police gave letter on Feb 1

Contrary to PKR leader N Surendran's claim, MIC says the family of C Sugumaran had been given a letter of authorisation to conduct a second post-mortem.

PETALING JAYA: The late C Sugumaran’s mother collected a letter from the Kajang district police headquarters on Feb 1 which authorised the family to conduct a second post-mortem.

A copy of the letter was given to FMT by MIC strategy director S Vell Paari.

This is contrary to PKR vice-president N Surendran’s claim that the authorities were sabotaging the attempt to conduct a second post-mortem to determine the security guard’s cause of death.

Yesterday, Surendran, who is also the lawyer representing the family, said the Health Ministry was requesting for an authorisation letter from the police.

In view of this, Vell Paari urged the PKR leader to check his facts first before making statements on the matter.

“If the letter stating that the police have no objection has been issued, then what letter is Surendran referring to?” he asked.

The MIC leader also said he found it odd that the family would not have informed Surendran regarding the letter.

“Whatever the case I don’t want to get into a debate on who is right and wrong, or if PKR is politicising the issue.

“Let us stop accusing each other and think about Sugumaran’s mother, while grieving the death of her son, she has to go through this torturous episode of a post-mortem tug of war,” he added.

Vell Paari also called on Surendran to work together to find out what was the cause of death.

“We (MIC) have requested MIC Youth information chief S Subramaniam to assist the family in coordinating with the relevant authorities with regard to whatever that is required for the second post-mortem,” he said.

Sugumaran died after allegedly being beaten by policemen and members of the public on Jan 24. The first post-mortem stated that he had succumbed to a heart failure.

In a related development, MIC Youth chief T Mohan criticised Surendran for politicising such a tragic incident.

“I can daringly say that he is a cheap politician and number one liar. The police gave permission for a second post-mortem on Feb 1 but Surendran deliberately hid this letter,” he said