Sugumaran’s death: PM Najib wants forensic report

MIC strategic director S Vell Paari reveals that the police have also agreed for a second post-mortem to be carried out.

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has instructed Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai to submit a forensic report on the death of security guard C Sugumaran.

It is also learnt that the police have given the green light to the family to conduct an independent post-mortem.

MIC strategic director S Vell Paari said the prime minister made the call after MIC president G Palanivel raised the matter during the Cabinet meeting this morning.

“Justice must be ensured for the deceased’s family. The police and the related ministries must be transparent in this matter,” added Vell Paari.

Vell Paari said that he spoke to Selangor deputy police chief A Thaiveegan and the latter revealed that a second post-mortem was permitted.

He added that MIC Youth was willing to bear the cost of the independent post-mortem.

“I will ask MIC Youth to contact the family and the PKR leaders involved in the case in order to decide on the independent pathologist to conduct the post-mortem,” he said.

Last Wednesday, Sugumaran was allegedly beaten to death by the police and public while handcuffed in Taman Sri Nanding, Hulu Langat.

Pathologist Dr Mohd Azaini Ibrahim of Serdang Hospital claimed that Sugumaran died of a heart attack despite eyewitnesses claiming the deceased was beaten up.

Sugumaran’s face was also smeared with turmeric powder.

Following this, the attorney-general had called for an inquest but the family had refused to participate, demanding that a murder investigation be carried out instead.

PKR leaders and lawyers N Surendran and Latheefa Koya, who were representing the family, alleged that the inquest was an attempt to cover up the case.

Following the incident, Vell Paari also reiterated the call for the formation of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).

He also suggested Bersih 2.0 co-chairperson S Ambiga to lead the body.