Cyberbully 'laughed' when told about suicide, claims victim's sister

The family of the 20-year-old woman from Bukit Mertajam in Penang who took her own life after being bullied on the internet and social media wants the police to act so others would not experience the same fate.

At a press conference today, the victim's sister Logeshwari Rajendran said the family is seeking justice.

"The comments hurled at my sister on social media were hurtful, they (cyberbullies) do not care whether people are right or wrong, they do not check but simply condemned.

"I contacted the cybertrooper who made my sister's video viral and told him that he was the cause of her death.

"He just sent me a laughter icon via WhatsApp and even said he did not believe my sister was dead," she added.

Thivya Nayagi is believed to have committed suicide as a result of depression due to a Facebook posting which was related to a TikTok video she made with her foreign colleague.

When the video went viral, the cybertrooper under the name of “Jocker Oruvan” had incessantly mocked and criticised her video.

Following her death on May 19, Malaysian Tamilar Kural president David Marshel lodged a report with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).

It is learned that the Facebook account that instigated the cyberbullying has since been deactivated after the woman’s death became public knowledge.

Bukit Tengah assemblyperson Gooi Hsiao Leung and Batu Kawan MP Kasthurirani Patto had accompanied Thivyaanayagi's family to the Bukit Tengah police station to lodge a report against "Jocker Oruvan".

"Jocker Oruvan" was totally unknown to Thivya Nayagi.

Gooi said the cybertrooper had "deliberately and with malicious intent" posted a TikTok video of her and her co-worker on his Facebook page to "embarrass and humiliate" the victim.

He had invited his 77,000 Facebook fans to question and abuse the woman’s association with the foreign worker, Gooi noted.

"The Facebook post, with over hundreds of shares and hundreds of hurtful abusive comments hurled at Thivya’s character and reputation under the Facebook post had been so overwhelming that it had caused her to take her own life," Gooi said.

"Make no mistake. This Jocker Oruvan - who hides behind a fake name - is an evil person.

"He deliberately planned and incited his fans on social media to attack and bully an innocent young woman to gain popularity for himself on his Facebook page," he added.

Gooi urged the police to make this case a priority by ensuring that the culprit faces the full brunt of the law for his "evil actions".

He said the police have shown "great efficiency" in tracking down individuals for defaming public figures and insulting religion on social media.

"So we are confident they have the ability to act with the same level of swiftness in this case," he added.

"Jocker Oruvan" can be charged under Section 499 of the Penal Code for criminal defamation as well as under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

Meanwhile, Kasthurirani urged law minister Takiyuddin Hassan not to waste time and move with great urgency to table amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code and the Penal Code to act on stalking, cyberbullying and hate speech.

Kasthurirani recalled that a draft of the amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code and the Penal Code had been discussed, deliberated and finalised by many stakeholders especially the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry.

She noted that the movement control order during the Covid-19 period has seen a rise in hate speech via online media and a possible scenario of depression, anxiety, fatigue, post-traumatic stress disorder and insomnia.

"This anti-stalking legislation, which would cover online harassment, has already been prepared by an inter-agency committee between 2019-2020 and the government has no excuse in delaying this law," she said.

If you are feeling depressed or suicidal, or know someone who is, you may contact Befrienders for help by following instructions on their website.

The Health Ministry and Mercy Malaysia have also set up a psychosocial support hotline for frontline workers and others who are emotionally affected by the Covid-19 outbreak.

The hotline can be reached at 011-63996482, 011-63994236 or 03-9359935, from 8am until 5pm. - Mkini