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FINALLY, A FUNERAL FOR HIM, 141 DAYS LATER…
Free Malaysia Today
141 days later, Sugumar laid to rest
The body of the 40-year-old security guard has been finally laid to rest at the Cheras burial ground.
KAJANG: The body of C Sugumar has finally been laid to rest at the Cheras 11th mile burial ground after being in the Serdang hospital mortuary for more than four months.
The 40-year-old security guard was allegedly chased, handcuffed and beaten to death by police and the public on Jan 21.
Attempts by the family and their lawyers to get a second autopsy performed by Thai pathologist Pornthip Rojanasunand have failed.
PKR vice-president and lawyer to the family N Surendran alleged that the government had also hindered their attempts to perform a second autopsy by local pathologists.
Surendran did not attend the funeral.
S Jayathas, PKR Human Rights and Legal Bureau deputy chief, who attended on behalf of Surendran, said a certain family member refused to allow members of the media into the house.
“A man who claimed to be the uncle of Sugumar insisted that no photographs should be taken as they wanted to pay final respects to the deceased,” he said.
Jayathas also confirmed Surendran’s statement yesterday that they would continue to pressure the police and the government to take action and provide justice.
“Today Sugumar was buried without any justice being provided to the family, we hope he rests in peace but we will continue to fight till the authorities take action,” he said.
Sugumar’s cousin K Anantha Kanan expressed regret that the family had to wait 141 days before they could perform his final rites.
“It is very sad indeed, a family already in grief should not be made to endure this amount of hardship,” he said.
“We regret depending on the government to provide assistance in getting the second autopsy done. They practically ignored our cries,” he added.
141 days later, Sugumar laid to rest
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Lawyers For Liberty @lawyers4liberty
His body will finally be laid to rest, but the fight will go on #justice4sugumar—
Lawyers For Liberty @lawyers4liberty
BN gov refused 2nd post mortem TODAY Death in @PDRMsia Custody Sugumar’s Funeral 12 June 1pm, No.15, Jln Delima 15 Tmn Sri Nanding, HLangat
Free Malaysia Today
Sugumar to be laid to rest tomorrow
Sugumar’s body will be laid to rest tomorrow evening after almost four months in the morgue awaiting a second autopsy.
PETALING JAYA: PKR vice president N Surendran said today that the family of C Sugumar has given up on the crusade for a second autopsy but will continue to fight for justice.
“The family along with us lawyers had given the government a 48 hour ultimatum to allow a second autopsy. They have kept mum and refused it.
“The prime minister Najib Tun Razak and the health minister S Subramaniam have completely ignored the cries of a grieving family,” said the Padang Serai MP.
“The family has vowed not to give up in fighting for justice though. They want those responsible to be charged no matter who they are,” he added.
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/06/11/sugumar-to-be-laid-to-rest-tomorrow/
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Sugumar, 39 – who died of alleged police brutality on Jan 23 – was found in the bushes, his hands bound behind his back and face smeared with turmeric an hour after having a drink in Hulu Langat, Kajang.
His body still remains in the Serdang Hospital mortuary, awaiting a second autopsy.
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Malaysia Chronicle
Friday, 07 June 2013 11:19
A CURSE FROM THE FAMILY: Najib, Subra given 48 hours or Sugumar to be buried under protest
Written by Malaysia Chronicle
The family of C Sugumar have given Prime Minister Najib Razak and Health Minister S Subramaniam 48 hours to resolve the issue of a second post-mortem on their dead son. Should Najib and Subramaniam, who is the deputy president of the Malaysian Indian Congress, fail to deliver a solution, the family will bury Sugumar.
Such a move may seem an anti-climax given the past demands made by the family, their lawyers and civil rights activists for the Indian community, but it is a very sharp slap in the face akin to a public curse and a grave reflection on the incompetence of the Najib administration.
“My nephew was chased down and beaten by the roadside and a shot was also fired we were told. They chased my nephew and beat him up like a dog, we tried so many times to get a post-mortem done. My nephew, my own blood has died. Not only my nephew but many other races have also been affected. We give them 48 hours. The government of the day must give justice to every citizen. He was beaten like a dog. The Serdang Hospital post-mortem says heart attack. We don’t believe it. I feel great pain. We will bury the body if the Prime Minister does not allow Dr Pornthip or a second post mortem to be carried out. Is the Prime Minister blood thirsty, let him take my blood,” Sugumar’s uncle startled reporters at the press conference with his impassioned appeal.
“The consequences of his actions will rebound on him and his government.”
A CURSE FROM THE FAMILY: Najib, Subra given 48 hours or Sugumar to be buried under protest
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For the background, click on
C Sugumar, unburied, still awaiting a 2nd autopsy….
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Malaysia Chronicle
Thursday, 06 June 2013 17:48
Tumeric murder & Najib’s indifference: Sugumar’s family to announce “DRASTIC ACTION”
Written by Maria Begum, Malaysia Chronicle
The family of C Sugumar, another alleged victim of police brutality, will hold a press conference on Friday, where they are expected to “announce drastic action”.
“C Sugumar’s body has spent more than 4 months in the morgue and tomorrow will mark the 135th day of his tragic death. C Sugumar’s family will attend a press conference tomorrow at Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s headquarters at Merchant Square,” law NGO Lawyers for Liberty said in a statement.
Lawyers Sivarasa Rasiah, N Surendran and Lawyers for Liberty will also be present at the press conference.
Sabotage from the highest level
Sugumar’s family had tried to engage the services of Thai forensic specialist Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand to do a second autopsy on his body but the move was allegedly blocked by Prime Minister Najib Razak’s office.
N Surendran, one of the lawyers acting for the family, had last week told reporters they may have no choice but to engage a new pathologist as Najib had refused to help lift the ‘soft’ ban on Pornthip.
“The family is considering such a move but nothing is confirmed. Even the name of the new pathologist will be kept secret because they fear sabotage by the PM’s office,” Surendran had said.
Another black mark for the M’sian police force
Sugumar, a security guard, was arrested in January this year, with police saying he had suffered a ‘mental’ fit and was destroying public property. A government hospital post-mortem said he died of a heart attack, but his family believe he could have been saved if not for negligent and rough police treatment.
Sugumar was only 40 and did not have health problems, they said.
According to eye-witnesses, Sugumar had been chased by the police, handcuffed, beaten and smeared with turmeric on his face and body. One of the policemen had allegedly stepped on his neck while another handcuffed him.
According to one of the lawyers, Sugumar’s body had still been moving at that point in time. His body later stopped moving but the police did not notice he had died until hours later.
“We refer to the claim by Kajang police chief that police did not beat C.Sugumar to death and that he died of a heart attack. This statement is a blatant attempt by police to cover-up the case, with the connivance of the Serdang Hospital. Three eyewitnesses have come forward who have testified that Sugumar was chased down by police, handcuffed, beaten and smeared with turmeric. How can the police claim that there was no foul-play, when they have not even recorded the statements of these three witnesses?” Surendran had said in an immediate response to the police findings.
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weehingthong 