KUALA LUMPUR – An inquest will determine the cause of A. Ganapathy’s death, seeing that police have no evidence to clear their name, said Klang MP Charles Santiago.
“An inquest hearing is imminent to determine how Ganapathy died and the role played by police, if any. While Arifai (Gombak police chief Arifai Tarawe) denies assault, Ganapathy’s mum alleges that her son told her that he was beaten by police.
“Her account can’t be dismissed, either, without proper investigation. Arifai has also warned the public against commenting on this case, but what else could he possibly expect us to do?”
Santiago slammed Arifai for saying there is no evidence that Ganapathy died due to assault while in police custody.
I would like to remind him that there is no evidence to show otherwise, either. Indians are disproportionately dying in police custody. And, there is just one too many sticking points surrounding Ganapathy’s death.”
The case reeks of abuse of police powers, he said.
“We need to know the truth. Police need to know they won’t get away with assaulting detainees. We cannot afford another detainee in a body bag.”
Yesterday, Arifai said Ganapathy never complained about physical violence when he was brought to the magistrates’ court on February 25, March 2 and March 6 for the extension of his remand order.
“No complaints about being beaten by police were made to the medical officer and assistant medical officer who treated the victim on February 28, March 3, March 6 and March 7, 2021.
“Investigations are ongoing, and the investigation paper will be forwarded to the Attorney-General’s Chambers, including a recommendation for an inquest. Any new developments will be announced.”
He said Ganapathy had a pre-existing cut on the right ankle before he was arrested, and was taken by police to Selayang Hospital four times before his death.
On March 7, he was taken to the Emergency and Trauma Department’s Yellow Zone while in police custody to have his injury treated. The next day, the department confirmed the appearance of necrotising fasciitis on the right ankle, which caused Ganapathy’s breathing difficulty.
At 12.30am on March 9, he was taken to the intensive care unit, and an orthopaedic specialist confirmed there was no longer blood flow to Ganapathy’s right leg. A decision was made to amputate the leg above the right knee to save his life.
“(Only) the victim’s right leg was amputated, and not both of them, as reported by a news portal,” said Arifai.
“At 1.15am on March 10, the victim’s right leg was amputated, and on March 30, at 9am, a second amputation was done at the same area. On April 18, at 11pm, the victim was confirmed to have died at Selayang Hospital’s ICU after being treated for 43 days there from March 7.”
Police requested an autopsy on April 18, and two days later, a sudden-death report was initiated to investigate the cause of death.
A post-mortem by Kuala Lumpur Hospital’s National Forensic Medicine Institute found that Ganapathy died of possible sepsis stemming from complications during treatment for necrotising fasciitis, but the full report has yet to be released.
Ganapathy’s mother, S. Thanaletchumy, lodged a police report after her son’s death, alleging that he was beaten with a rubber hose by police while in custody, resulting in the amputation.
His family said his health went downhill because of the beatings, and that his swollen and bruised legs were evidence of the violence. – The Vibes, May 1, 2021
