Kugan group with petition turned away from Istana

(NST) KUALA LUMPUR: While Hindus will celebrate Deepavali in three weeks, there will be no joy in the festivities for the family of A. Kugan, the suspected car thief who died in police custody early this year.

Kugan's mother, N. Indra, 41, yesterday voiced her dissatisfaction at the police and the Attorney-General's Chambers, as justice is yet to be delivered eight months after his death.

"I want to know who killed my son. I want justice," a teary-eyed Indra said in Brick-fields yesterday.

She and about 20 others -- comprising relatives and several members of parliament -- had earlier been asked to disperse from Istana Negara, where they had gone to pass a petition seeking justice for Kugan's death.

Puchong member of parliament Gobind Singh Deo, who was present, said the group started gathering outside the Istana about 11am to pass the petition. He refused to reveal the contents of the petition, saying it had not been passed to the relevant party.

"It was a peaceful gathering and was done after a palace official gave the green light to receive our petition last week.

"But when we arrived there, the police allowed only three people from the crowd to head towards the gate to pass the petition, which we refused."

The group asked Brickfields police chief Assistant Commissioner Wan Abdul Wan Abdul Khalid, who was in charge of the situation, to allow five people to hand over the petition but instead they were asked to disperse.

The group dispersed about 35 minutes later without incident. They adjourned to Brickfields and held a press conference.

Gobind said he would raise the matter in Parliament. The group will plan another gathering soon to pass the petition to the Istana. "If Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail is so incompetent that he can't get Kugan's killers and charge them, we request a Royal Commission of Inquiry be formed to handle the case."

Present were Kapar MP S. Manikavasagam, Kota Alam Shah assemblyman M. Mano-haran and Human Rights Party secretary-general P. Utha-yakumar.

Kugan, 22, was detained by police on Jan 15 for alleged car theft but died five days later while in police custody.