Suhakam not allowed to view abuse victim’s body

The remains of Pakiam Subramanium, which has been held by the Serdang Hospital for 106 days, has not been released for a second post-mortem either

KUALA LUMPUR: Serdang Hospital has denied Suhakam permission to view the body of a young woman who allegedly died as result of injuries in a domestic violence.

Suhakam commissioner, Mohd Sha’ani Abdullah, said that although they had given prior notice via a letter to view the body this morning at 11am, hospital authorities  refused them.

“I insisted on wanting to view the body as Suhakam has the powers to investigate, but they referred us to the director-general who demanded a letter.

“We have already faxed another letter today, and have scheduled a new appointment for 3pm on Monday.”
He explained that Suhakam had received the complaint regarding discrepancies in the death and inaction by the authorities on Friday.

Mohd Sha’ani added that the family had apparently made five police reports but none were met with any action.

“We need to see the body so we can decide what action to take next, and whether to call for a public inquiry.”

Lorry driver M Subramaniam, 52, is seeking an order for a second post-mortem on the remains of his daughter, Pakiam, 23, who died just five months after marriage.

This is the third time he is seeking such an order, with the first two filings being rejected by the magistrate. The results of the first autopsy concluded the cause of death as ‘pending’.

Beaten up by husband
Subramaniam wants the second post-mortem to be done independently at the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre in Petaling Jaya by forensic pathologist Dr Karunakaran Mathiharan.

He also wants the remains of Pakiam brought to UMMC so that the cause of her death could be determined in accordance with Section 326 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Subramaniam also wants an inquest to be called to get to the bottom of the case and for his lawyer, Gurmit Singh Hullon, to be present during the second post-mortem.

In his application, Subramaniam said Pakiam’s arranged marriage took place on Sept 10 and that she was of sound health, physically and mentally.

He said following her marriage, she lived with her in-laws in Padang Serai, Kedah.
On Feb 12, Subramaniam’s wife P Thobathi, 43, went to Padang Serai to visit Pakiam on learning that her daughter had allegedly been beaten by her husband.

Subramaniam claimed was prevented by the husband from seeing Pakiam.
At 11.30pm the same day, he said he received a call from his wife saying that Pakiam had died.
Subramaniam said when he got to Padang Serai, he was told by Pakiam’s husband that Pakiam died after taking medicine for a stomach ache.

He said he found injury marks on her body, including wounds on her hands, cigarette stub marks on her abdomen, finger nails prised off, a swollen head and missing teeth.
He said he then lodged a police report on Feb 14.

Gurmit Singh told reporters that the High Court had set Thursday to hear the application.