Dear Friends,
Regarding our previous appeal on the mysterious death in custody of Mr. S. Tharma Rajen, we have been informed that the office of the Chief Justice of Malaysia has ordered the Sepang Magistrate Court to conduct an inquest on this case. Thereafter, the first inquest was held on September 3 and the second will be held on September 5.
This response followed the petition letter submitted by the victims’s family members, 27 NGOs and political parties on August 30, 2002, to the Chief Justice to request an inquest.
Meanwhile, we have learned that two more similar cases have happened recently. Unfortunately, we have been received only very brief information as follows:
– On 28 July 2002, Ragupathy A/L Muniandy died in police custody at Hospital Putrajaya at the age of 24. It was reported that he died of heart failure. Both Tharma Rajen and Ragupathy were held in police custody at the Sepang police station.
– Vivashanu Pillai died in police custody in the period of 1st – 4th August 2002. It was alleged by the police from the Dang Wangi Police station, Kuala Lumpur that he attempted to escape and drowned himself in a river.
For the other two victims, the Chief Justice’s office said that the Magistrate Court is awaiting the second post mortem report for M. Ragupathy’s case, and they have yet to receive any report from the police on the case of Vivashanu Pillai.
For your better understanding, please see our previous appeal at http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2002/287/
Thank you for your attention.
Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission
