Last Saturday, Sivapakiam Palchamy, 47, lost her son, who became the latest victim of custodial death in Penang.
And today, fighting back tears, the distraught single mother related what had happened to S Naidu Agin Raj, whom the authorities claim had died of epileptic fits.
According to her, the 26-year-old lorry driver was healthy before he was detained on suspicion of iron theft.
But when she met him in court on June 3, Sivapakiam said her son complained that he was unwell, alleging he was treated roughly and beaten up.
The family is also mulling legal action against the Bukit Mertajam hospital and police, accusing them of being negligent in providing adequate care and treatment.
'Tied to the hospital bed'
When she met him at the hospital on June 4, Sivapakiam said that she saw his hands and legs tied to the hospital bed.
"My son told me he wasn't given any food and drink after being admitted for a day in hospital, nor was he given any glucose or put on drip, although the police and hospital knew he was weak and had fits," she told reporters at DAP's service center in Prai.
"When he asked for food and water, he was ignored, when we tried to give him some isotonic drink, we were not allowed to," she added.
Also present were her Regina Devi, 23, and Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy, who is also the Prai assemblyperson.
Up to now, Sivapakiam lamented that the family has not received word from the police about his death.
“We learned about his death from a stranger who called us to inform us," she said, calling on the Health Ministry and Home Ministry to launch a thorough probe as well as to conduct an inquest into his death.
Sivapakiam also lodged a police report in Chai Leng Park today, claiming that the doctor on duty at the hospital and the police failed to act pro-actively.
Seberang Perai Tengah police chief Baharom Abu denied that Agin Raj was assaulted while in custody.
He said post-mortem results by forensic expert Dr Bhupinder Singh showed that the victim died of "hypocix encephalopathy following epileptic fits" or lack of oxygen to the brain resulting in breathing difficulties.
Was the illness 'invented'?
Meanwhile, Ramasamy said he would write to the Health and Home Ministries to demand for a probe into Agin Raj's death.
"I call on the Home Ministry to suspend the medical doctor who neglected to treat Agin Raj when he was warded and I urge the police to suspend the investigating officer Inspector Madora Mustafa as well," he added.
He lashed out at the hospital and police for their reports on the cause of Agin Raj's death, saying that the illness might have been "invented" as the deceased was fit before his arrest.
"What about his condition in the lock-up? Why was his hands and legs tied to the hospital bed? Why was he not provided with food and water at the hospital? Why was he not on drip although he was supposed to be having fits?" he queried.
"For them (the authorities), life is so cheap in this country. Who cares about the lives of poor Indians...," he added.
He threw a challenge to the Home Ministry and Health Ministry to act on their "negligent" staff but stressed, "I bet nothing will happen."
"But we will exhaust all avenues before taking the necessary legal action," he said.
And today, fighting back tears, the distraught single mother related what had happened to S Naidu Agin Raj, whom the authorities claim had died of epileptic fits.
According to her, the 26-year-old lorry driver was healthy before he was detained on suspicion of iron theft.
But when she met him in court on June 3, Sivapakiam said her son complained that he was unwell, alleging he was treated roughly and beaten up.
The family is also mulling legal action against the Bukit Mertajam hospital and police, accusing them of being negligent in providing adequate care and treatment.
'Tied to the hospital bed'
When she met him at the hospital on June 4, Sivapakiam said that she saw his hands and legs tied to the hospital bed.
"My son told me he wasn't given any food and drink after being admitted for a day in hospital, nor was he given any glucose or put on drip, although the police and hospital knew he was weak and had fits," she told reporters at DAP's service center in Prai."When he asked for food and water, he was ignored, when we tried to give him some isotonic drink, we were not allowed to," she added.
Also present were her Regina Devi, 23, and Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy, who is also the Prai assemblyperson.
Up to now, Sivapakiam lamented that the family has not received word from the police about his death.
“We learned about his death from a stranger who called us to inform us," she said, calling on the Health Ministry and Home Ministry to launch a thorough probe as well as to conduct an inquest into his death.
Sivapakiam also lodged a police report in Chai Leng Park today, claiming that the doctor on duty at the hospital and the police failed to act pro-actively.
Seberang Perai Tengah police chief Baharom Abu denied that Agin Raj was assaulted while in custody.
He said post-mortem results by forensic expert Dr Bhupinder Singh showed that the victim died of "hypocix encephalopathy following epileptic fits" or lack of oxygen to the brain resulting in breathing difficulties.
Was the illness 'invented'?
Meanwhile, Ramasamy said he would write to the Health and Home Ministries to demand for a probe into Agin Raj's death.
"I call on the Home Ministry to suspend the medical doctor who neglected to treat Agin Raj when he was warded and I urge the police to suspend the investigating officer Inspector Madora Mustafa as well," he added.He lashed out at the hospital and police for their reports on the cause of Agin Raj's death, saying that the illness might have been "invented" as the deceased was fit before his arrest.
"What about his condition in the lock-up? Why was his hands and legs tied to the hospital bed? Why was he not provided with food and water at the hospital? Why was he not on drip although he was supposed to be having fits?" he queried.
"For them (the authorities), life is so cheap in this country. Who cares about the lives of poor Indians...," he added.
He threw a challenge to the Home Ministry and Health Ministry to act on their "negligent" staff but stressed, "I bet nothing will happen."
"But we will exhaust all avenues before taking the necessary legal action," he said.
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