Family members of the late T Nhaveen went to the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) today to inquire about the progress on the case of the slain teenager.
However, they were dissatisfied when they were only met by a public relations officer from the AGC.
This led to a sit-in protest outside, with plans for another protest next week.
Last October, the George Town High Court acquitted and discharged five individuals accused of causing Nhaveen’s death, allegedly killed due to violent bullying in 2017.
The family has been pushing for the AGC to appeal the acquittal.
Nhaveen’s mother Shanti Dorairaj along with Arun Dorasamy, chairperson of the Nhaveen Action & Investigation League, and several other relatives and friends, arrived at the AGC around 10.30am.
They wanted to petition key individuals responsible for the case and to receive updates on the latest progress of the appeal.
They requested a meeting with Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar, the AGC’s head of appeals and trials division, as well as other representatives from the division and the attorney-general's office.
However, the AGC only sent a public relations officer, who identified himself as Mohd Hafiz, to meet them.
Not about to send another letter
Dissatisfied by the perceived snub, the group refused to submit their memorandum.
Arun, when interviewed, pointed out that they had informed the AGC’s public relations office on March 11 that they would be submitting their memorandum to the three aforementioned parties today.
“And regarding the provision for this memorandum, I have informed the public relations officer that I want only three parties to receive this memorandum because I have sent about seven persuasive letters and received no response.
“So, it’s not reasonable for me to give another memorandum just for (their) filing,” he said.
He also rejected that it was standard operating procedure for the public relations officer to receive the petition.
“I refuse (to accept this explanation) because I have already sent seven letters and I have no intention whatsoever to add one more.
“I’m very sure that if I go back to the (AGC) office today, I will not find the seven letters. I’m quite sure. So, I don’t want to add to their trash can or their shredder or their anything,” Arun said.
Subsequently, Shanti and Arun’s group began their sit-in protest in front of the AGC at around 2.15pm.
However, after approximately half an hour of sitting, Shanti could no longer contain her emotions.
She stood up and walked into the lobby of the AGC, crying out to meet with the prosecutor in charge of her son’s case.
In her emotional outburst, she cried: “It’s been seven years!”, adding that she is unable to go on like this.
Eventually, with the comfort and persuasion of her relatives and friends, she sat down to calm herself while the group continued to wait.
‘AGC needs to pay’
However, by 4pm, no one from the three parties requested appeared to meet them and the group left disappointed.
Arun said they will return to the AGC next Friday (April 5) and organise a protest to demand accountability from the AGC regarding the progress of the case to the public.
“So one thing is clear. Now, there’s going to be a protest right here at the AGC, 11am Friday, April 5.
“And from now, March 26 until April 5, there will not be any correspondence between Nhaveen’s mother and the AGC.
“Because they (AGC) need to pay. I mean whatever happened today is a great insult. I take great offence to it,” he said.
Arun said Nhaveen’s family wants to know if the notice of appeal has been served to the accused and if the AGC is prepared to apply to the court for arrest warrants for the five accused.
He claimed that two of the five defendants are currently not in Malaysia, which may lead to the cancellation of the case.
Arun also emphasised that the law does not prohibit the AGC from informing the victim’s family about the progress of the case. - Mkini
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