GEORGE TOWN – Three individuals have been detained by police after new evidence was submitted in the alleged assault and death of student T. Nhaveen, some five years after the case grabbed national headlines.
It is learnt the suspects were remanded after police began investigations into the new evidence brought to light by a group seeking justice for the family.
Two were arrested here last Saturday and Sunday and a 24-year-old individual surrendered to the police on Monday. All three are aged between 21 and 30.
It is believed the suspects were involved in the threatening of three witnesses in the case, including threatening to murder a 22-year-old witness.
District police chief Soffian Santong said police will seek advice from the deputy public prosecutor’s office following the submission of new evidence.
He did not elaborate further on the matter.
Currently, four people are under trial facing murder charges after Nhaveen died of head injuries after he was allegedly assaulted by a group of fellow students.
Nhaveen’s mother, G. Shanti, had said that her son was bullied throughout his secondary school years before the brutal assault.
Arun Doraisamy, chairman of Nhaveen Action Leaque, a group formed to help the victim’s mother, said the group had lodged four police reports in connection with the case following new information.
“We have lodged three police reports against three suspects and another police report to seek safety and security of a 22-year-old witness, who had received death threats, and we have moved him out of the state for his safety,” said Arun.
J. Ragesuthan, 18, S. Gokulan, 18, and two juveniles – aged 17 and 16 – were charged with the murder of Nhaveen on June 19, 2017.
The hearings are expected to resume next month at the high court here.
The suspects are accused of murdering Nhaveen near the Karpal Singh Learning Centre in Jalan Kaki Bukit, Gelugor, between 11pm and midnight on June 9, 2017. – The Vibes, May 25, 2021
