Family to snub 'sham inquest' amid shocking accounts of Sugumaran's death

After Selangor police chief Tun Hisan Tun Majid rejected calls for a murder investigation into the death of mentally unstable person C. Sugumaran, the latter's family has decided not to participate in any inquest which critics described as a cover-up.

"The calling of an inquest despite eyewitness evidence suggesting assault and murder is illogical, sinister and unlawful," said the family's lawyers N Surendran and Latheefa Koya in a statement to Harakahdaily.

"The rejection of a murder investigation and calling of inquest is part of a massive cover-up of Sugumar's death being orchestrated by the police, Home Ministry, Attorney general and government."

They pointed out that although since the incident of his alleged attack by a mob three eyewitnesses have given their account to the police, the witnesses had approached police on their own accord and there had been no attempt to locate these witnesses.

Several witnesses have chillingly recounted to the media Sugumaran's final moments. The 40-year old had fled several policemen in Hulu Langat before he was caught and handcuffed. After his arrest, a mob of some twenty men attacked him while his face was smeared with turmeric powder by one of the four policemen involved.

"The witnesses said that a police officer was seen stepping brutally on Sugumaran's neck with his booted foot while Sugumaran was seen trying to move his head away from under the boot. The police officer continued pressing on Sugumaran's neck until he stopped struggling and became motionless," said the statement by the lawyers.

As such, they questioned why the AG called for an inquest and not classify the case as murder.

"The family of Sugumar and the people of this country expect the police and A-G to act fairly and professionally and ensure that justice is done in this case."

-Harakahdaily