GEORGE TOWN – The late T. Nhaveen was always bullied by an individual known as “Raga”, the Penang High Court was told today.
T. Previin, 23, who is the main witness in the teen’s murder trial, said Nhaveen often complained that he was bullied in secondary school by “Raga” and his three friends – “Sharma, Kogulan and Phartisan”.
“He always complained of being bullied. Sometimes, Raga would hit Nhaveen’s head, kick his legs or punch him in the stomach. The name ‘Raga’ is often mentioned.
“But every time Nhaveen told me about it, I could only advise him to stay strong,” he told judge Mohd Radzi Abdul Hamid.
When asked by deputy public prosecutor Mohd Amril Johari why Nhaveen was often bullied at school, Previin said his late friend did not know how to retaliate.
“When I was in primary school with him, I saw Nhaveen beaten up, but he did not respond at all.”
The seventh witness of the prosecution also told the court that the both of them had been close friends since he was 10 years old as they went to the same school, but in Forms 1 and 2, they went to different schools.
However, they met again when Previin was 15 years old, and their friendship continued.
“I call Nhaveen’s mother ‘mum’, and she calls me ‘muthal paiyan’, which means eldest child in Tamil,” said Previin.
“I am considered a part of Nhaveen’s family and visit his house every day after completing Form 5.”
Previin today testified in court with the help of a Tamil interpreter, after “disappearing” early last month, causing the trial to be postponed.
He is said to have received threats from people with alleged ties to the accused, and was reportedly under the care of activist Arun Dorasamy, who took him to Kuala Lumpur. He will continue his testimony tomorrow.
Other than Amril, the prosecution was made up of state prosecution director Datuk Khairul Anuar Abdul Halim, and deputy public prosecutors Yazid Mustaqim Roslan and Noor Azura Zulkiflee.
Counsel Ranjit Singh Dhillon, Manveer Singh Dhillon and Yagoo Subramaniam represented the accused, while Sukhindarpal Singh acted as the Malaysian Bar observer.
J. Ragesuthen and S. Gokulan, both 18, and two others, aged 17 and one who turned 18 in July, 2017, were charged with murdering Nhaveen between 11pm and midnight on June 9, 2017, near the Karpal Singh Penang Learning Centre in Jalan Kaki Bukit, Bukit Gelugor.
They were charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the mandatory death penalty upon conviction. – The Vibes, August 5, 2021
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