IP on death of Nigerian student submitted to AGC in August, say police
Police dismissed claims that they have yet to complete investigations into the death of Nigerian national Thomas Orhions Ewansiha.
The Investigation Paper on the case had been submitted to the Attorney-General's Chamber (AGC) in August, Bukit Aman CID (prosecution and legal division) principal assistant director Mior Faridalathrash Wahid told Malaysiakini.
This followed allegations by the lawyers representing Thomas' family that it has been four months since the deceased passed on, and that the AGC, in its letter dated oct 25, is said to have confirmed that the investigations are still ongoing.
"Police have completed the investigation. We have submitted the sudden death report to the AGC with a suggestion for an inquest to be conducted...
Police dismissed claims that they have yet to complete investigations into the death of Nigerian national Thomas Orhions Ewansiha (above).
The Investigation Paper on the case had been submitted to the Attorney-General's Chamber (AGC) in August, Bukit Aman CID (prosecution and legal division) principal assistant director Mior Faridalathrash Wahid told Malaysiakini.
This followed allegations by the lawyers representing Thomas' family that it has been four months since the deceased passed on, and that the AGC, in its letter dated oct 25, is said to have confirmed that the investigations are still ongoing.
"Police have completed the investigation. We have submitted the sudden death report to the AGC with a suggestion for an inquest to be conducted, as stated under the provisions of Section 339 of the Criminal Procedure Code," Mior said.
Yesterday, lawyers Rajesh Nagarajan and Sachpreetraj Singh Sohanpal, in a statement, stated that the Coroner's Court cannot investigate Thomas' death until it received the documents.
"It is truly appalling that investigations have not been completed, despite the fact that almost four months have passed since Mr Thomas' death," said the two lawyers.
Thomas, 34, was detained by Immigration Department personnel at an apartment in Kepong, Kuala Lumpur on July 4 despite having valid papers.
The Immigration Department claimed that he was found dead on July 9 after suffering from seizures while sleeping.
Its director-general Khairul Dzaimee Daud (above) had stressed that his officers did not breach the Standard Operating Procedure in the incident.
Khairul had revealed that the student, upon his arrest, had presented his passport which he said contained a valid student visa.
However, the student's initial reaction to flee had raised suspicions over the validity of his travel documents.
"The student was suspected of committing offences under Section 56(1) of the Immigration Act 1959/1963, and was arrested under Section 51(5)b) for 14 days for further investigations," he had said.
The family of the Nigerian doctoral student, however, wanted an inquest to be conducted into his death, following suspicion that Thomas had been beaten by immigration officers and not given due treatment for his injuries, leading to his death.
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