No proof student died from electrocution, UUM contends

 

Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) has contended that there was no evidence S Vinosiny died of electrocution in her dorm room two years ago.

In its statement of defence against a RM3.05 million lawsuit by the deceased student’s father, it pointed out that an Energy Commission (EC) probe found no defect in electrical components and outlets at the scene.

“Following an investigation on the items at the scene of the incident, EC stated in its investigation report its conclusion that there was no electrical cause to show that Vinosiny died from electrocution,” UUM said in the defence filed by law firm Jayadeep Hari & Jamil at the Alor Setar High Court on April 27.

According to a civil court filing sighted by Malaysiakini, UUM said it also received a letter on March 5 last year from the Kubang Pasu district police station, informing them there was no criminal element in Vinosiny’s death.

The defendant said the letter was addressed to its security unit director and contained the results of a histopathology forensic report on the deceased’s heart tissue.

UUM said the report showed Vinosiny “had the myocardial fibrosis disease which increased her risk of heart arrhythmia which can cause death, additionally with low voltage electrocution”.

S Vinosiny

The defendant also indicated its disagreement with the Coroner’s Court ruling in February last year that Vinosiny died from electrocution.

UUM contended that the inquest ruling was made without taking into account testimony from the defendant as well as EC’s findings.

The public university has a pending criminal revision application before the Alor Setar High Court to reverse the Coroner Court’s decision.

When contacted by Malaysiakini, the deceased’s family’s lawyer M Manoharan confirmed they have been served copies of UUM’s statement of defence.

He added that the family would be filing a reply to counter the defendant’s statement of defence.

Suit against UUM

On Feb 28, the deceased’s father R Sivakumar filed the negligence suit against UUM.

According to a copy of the statement of claim, the aggrieved 54-year-old plaintiff is seeking RM1 million in general damages, RM1 million in aggravated damages, RM1 million in exemplary damages, and RM50,000 in special damages.

R Sivakumar

He claimed that UUM breached its duty of care to ensure Vinosiny’s safety from electrocution while using the hostel room.

The plaintiff claimed that the public university failed to replace or repair the electrical wall lamp or other defective appliances or take any reasonable steps to render the appliances safe.

Sivakumar alleged that UUM failed to give his daughter any adequate warning of the dangerous condition of the electrical wall lamp or other appliances in the hostel room.

Besides the financial compensation, the plaintiff also seeks five percent interest on any sum awarded from the date of judgment to the date of realisation, costs, and any other relief deemed fit by the civil court.

In May 2022, it was reported that Vinosiny, who was enrolled at UUM in Sintok, Kedah, was suspected of having died from an electric shock in her hostel room.

The deceased, who was in the fourth semester of her accounting and information system studies, had returned to campus a week before the tragedy. - Mkini