Late navy cadet's father submits memo to Bukit Aman demanding justice

After the devastating tragedy that took his brother’s life, Charles Joseph fervently hoped that no one with dreams of serving the country would share the same fate.

The brother of the late navy cadet J Soosaimanicckam said the tragedy left an indelible scar on their family, with their mother being repeatedly hospitalised due to emotional distress.

“When we sent him, it was so he could be in the navy, training for the country. But with what has happened, how are we supposed to trust (the country) again?

“If I send my children, how can I be confident again? We just want justice, nothing else,” he told the media after handing a memorandum to the Bukit Aman police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today.

The memorandum was submitted at the entrance gate and was received by two police personnel.

Soosaimanicckam, a graduate cadet officer, was pronounced dead at the Lumut Military Hospital on May 19, 2018.

Last year, the Ipoh Coroner’s Court delivered an open verdict during the inquest into the cadet officer’s death to ascertain the cause.

On August 1, Soosaimanicckam’s father, Joseph Sinappan, filed a report at the Petaling Jaya police station following an Ipoh High Court ruling on July 29, which set aside the coroner’s open verdict and revised it to homicide.

With the police yet to contact his family since they lodged the report, Charles said the memorandum called for Bukit Aman to conduct a transparent investigation into his brother’s death.

Five demands

In the memorandum shared with the media, the family claimed they received no contact from the police following the July 29 court ruling and demanded five things:

1. An investigation under Section 302 or 304 of the Penal Code to be conducted by a Bukit Aman team.

2. An independent team must be appointed to investigate the case.

3. The investigation must duly consider the homicide verdict given by the High Court.

4. The progress of the investigation must be communicated to the family to ensure transparency.

5. An explanation from the Manjung district police headquarters regarding its failure to conduct a transparent and thorough investigation into Soosaimanicckam’s deathin 2018.

The memorandum was endorsed by about 29 advocate groups, including Lawyers for Liberty (LFL), Citizen Against Enforced Disappearance (Caged), Borneo Komrad, Centre for Independent Journalism, and others.

LFL director Zaid Malek urged the police to take the matter seriously.

“The family has fought hard and had to go through the inquest process for about six years and finally got an answer to one of their questions, which is why Soosaimanicckam, who was only 27 years old, could die suddenly after entering the navy training camp for just a week.

“The answer has been given, and we know there are responsible parties. Therefore, the police should take this matter seriously,” he said.

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