The family of the late teenager M Vasanthapiriya has issued a notice of demand to the New Straits Times Press to retract two articles published in its newspapers New Straits Times and Berita Harian.

The notice was addressed to NST's group editor, and the Penang-based reporter Shamsul Munir Safini.

The articles, “CCTV footage shows Vasanthapiriya taking iPhone,” which appeared in NST, and the Bahasa Malaysia version “CCTV rakam pelajar ambil telephone guru,” which appeared in BH, were published on Feb 11.

Both articles reported the claim that CCTV recordings showed Vasanthapiriya taking her teacher’s mobile phone. The teenager had attempted to hang herself and later died after being confronted with the accusation.

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Muniandy had held a press conference In Nibong Tebal, Penang, immediately after the publication of the articles, and strongly urged all parties not to "soil the reputation" of his dead daughter.

Acting for the deceased’s father R Muniandy, Parmjit Singh said his client was "shocked, angered and dismayed" to read the NST articles.

Parmjit said the article contained a lie, as Penang police chief A Thaiveegan had told reporters that the identity of the individual shown in the CCTV recording was still being investigated.

The lawyer also demanded that NST publish an immediate retraction and apology both in print and online.

"We expect the retraction and apology to receive the same prominence as the original article did," he added.

Malaysiakini has contacted the Group's editor Yushaimi Yahaya and Shamsul Munir, and is awaiting their response.

Muniandy had found his daughter hanging from a shawl in her room on Jan 24. The teenager had left a note denying the accusations.

She died a week later on Feb 4 after suffering from brain injury at the Seberang Jaya Hospital. The police and Education Ministry are currently probing the case.