Suhakam: Nigerian student Ewansiha died from heart failure, not torture

The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) has revealed that the death of a Nigerian doctorate student in July was not due to torture.

Checks with the forensics authorities have shown that Thomas Orhions Ewansiha died from heart failure and that the Immigration Department had delayed in providing medication for him, Suhakam commissioner Jerald Joseph said.

"We have conducted investigations against all the parties involved.

"From our interviews with the forensics officers, there are no wounds on the deceased to suggest that he was tortured. There was an old wound on his leg but that did not contribute to the death.

"It's a heart condition and a health issue… he was given medication, but the dosage was wrong.

"When the medical officer asked him about the type of medication he takes and showed him (the medication), he confirmed that it was correct, but he was unsure of the dosage. He was given the correct medication but the dosage given was half of what should have been prescribed.

"When we checked with a private doctor, the medication was incomplete.

"I don't blame the Immigration Department's clinic but if you don't bring a patient to the hospital, then the delay could cause serious health injury," Joseph said at a media conference in Kuala Lumpur.

Thomas Orhions Ewansiha

He said Ewansiha (above) had told an Immigration officer that he had high blood pressure but the health inspection couldn't be done due to a technical issue.

"He said he has high blood pressure. He was a person of big built and the pressure cuff was too small, so the inspection couldn't be done.

"This procedure needs to be worked out. If there's not enough equipment, hospitals and clinics are nearby."

This revelation comes less than two weeks before an inquest to determine the cause of Ewansiha's death is to take place, from Jan 2, 2020.

Joseph also took a jab at the Immigration Department for the detention of Ewansiha, which he deemed unnecessary.

"With the latest technology, why can't we check and verify (his documents) on the spot? When you wait for three to four days, something like this (a death) could happen […] I don't think that detaining people just to verify their documents is needed."

Meanwhile, the lawyer representing Ewansiha's wife has expressed concern over Suhakam's revelation concerning his death, saying this was less than two weeks before the inquest takes place.

"It is our opinion that this statement by Suhakam, less than two weeks prior to the date of the inquest hearing at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court, may seriously prejudice the inquest proceedings and may affect the testimony of witnesses.

"It is inexcusable and unprecedented for a Suhakam commissioner to make such a finding without a public inquiry, merely two weeks prior to the inquest for Mr Ewansiha," said Rajesh Nagarajan in a media statement.

Ewansiha, 34, died at the Bukit Jalil Immigration Detention Depot on July 9.

Prior to that, he was detained on July 4 during an immigration operation at the Desa Aman Puri Apartment.

The Lim Kok Wing Institute of Creative Technology student was under a 14-day remand to verify his documents and to seek confirmation from the college on his attendance record and details of his course, according to Immigration Department director-general Khairul Dzaimee Daud.

Khairul had said that there was no breach of the standard operating procedures in the case. - Mkini