Inquest into actress’ death starts today

By M. Mageswari, The Star

The inquest into the mysterious death of actress K. Sujatha will begin today at the magistrates court here.

Sources familiar with the case said that magistrate Mohd Faizi Che Abu, sitting as the coroner, was expected to be informed of the witnesses to be called to testify in the proceedings.

“It will be a fact-finding mission on Sujatha’s death, including to determine the cause of death and witnesses who were present during and before her death.

“It is to find out more of the details, what had transpired during that period including if she had boyfriend problems,” the sources told The Star yesterday.

They said that 10 witnesses were expected to testify at the inquest.

Among them are Sujatha’s two brothers, two medical specialists and two general practitioners who had treated her at the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital in Klang.

S. Vell Paari, the Maika Holdings chief executive officer and son of MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, who had denied rumours linking him to Sujatha’s death, will also be one of the key witnesses.

Sujatha had worked as Vell Paari’s secretary.

The sources added that Mohd Faizi would set the trial dates after being briefed by DPP Geethan Ram Vincent, who will be assisting the coroner in the inquest proceedings.

Sujatha, 29, who had acted in several Tamil dramas, movies and commercials, died at the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital in Klang three days after she was admitted on June 25, 2007.

She was believed to have swallowed weedkiller at her apartment in Sentul.

Her death also resulted in PKR supreme council member S. Manikavasagam, who is also Kapar MP, lodging a police report on Aug 8, 2007 on behalf of Sujatha’s family at the Brickfieds police station and appealing to Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan to form a task force to investigate the case.

It also saw former Sentul police chief ACP K. Kumaran filing a lawsuit against Manikavasagam and three others in relation to a news report on her death which allegedly defamed him.

That case is due to be heard at the High Court.