Dad unhappy with inquest decision

Man to seek judicial review over finding on suicide

GEORGE TOWN: R. Muniandy will request for a judicial review of the Coroner’s decision that the death of his daughter M. Vasantha Piriya, who was accused of stealing a teacher’s handphone, was due to suicide from hanging.

Muniandy, 54, said he would be holding a press conference today with non-governmental organisation Malaysian Tamilar Kural to address the decision and his wishes for a judicial review.

“I should have been a witness in the inquest. I was originally told that I would be called (to the stand) but it did not happen.

“I expected them to call me so that they would know what actually happened that day,” he said.

The Coroner’s Court yesterday concluded that the death of the 14-year-old was due to suicide from hanging.

Coroner Norsalha Hamzah said the court could only conclude that Vasantha Piriya had attempted to take her life by hanging herself, following the testimony of expert witnesses.

“Based on the doctor’s review, there were no external or internal injuries except for the abrasions on the girl’s neck as a result of her hanging.

“There were also prior injuries to her left hand, not associated with the suicide. The post-mortem report stated the cause of death was due to hanging.

“She was in a locked room with no one else present. There are no criminal elements in this case and no evidence that someone was in the room with her when

There is no criminal element, but we do not know what transpired in the house. V. Parthipan

the incident occurred.

“The court also cannot arrive at the conclusion that someone broke into the house and concludes that Vasantha Piriya died due to hanging,” she said.

On Jan 24, Vasantha Piriya’s teacher Raymala, 48, was reported to have accused the girl of stealing her handphone from the teachers’ room.

The Form Two girl was later found hanged in her house and rushed to Sungai Bakap Hospital.

She was later transferred to Seberang Jaya Hospital, where she died on Feb 1 after being in a coma for seven days. She had left a note maintaining her innocence.

Outside the court, lawyers V. Parthipan and Sukhinderpal Singh said they would advise for a judicial review of the Coroner’s decision in the High Court.

“There is no criminal element, but we do not know what transpired in the house. This was based on the testimony of inquest witnesses.

“The mother and father should have testified to shed light on what transpired at home,” said Parthipan.