Nhaveen DIES
GEORGE TOWN: Student T. Nhaveen (pix), who was brutally beaten up and sexually assaulted by a group of teenagers last week, has died after lying “brain dead” in Penang Hospital for several days.
Northeast district police chief ACP Anuar Omar said police was notified of the 18-year-old’s death at 6pm yesterday. The incident had drawn much attention on social media, with many expressing sympathy to the victim and his family and outrage against his attackers. According to Inspector-General of Police Tan S r i Khali d Abu Bakar, police will reclassify the case as murder following the victim’s death.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak said on Twitter yesterday that stern action will be taken against his assailants.
“Saddened to receive news of the passing of T. Nhaveen. Condolences to the family,” he said.
Lawyer Datuk Baljit Singh, who spoke for the family, said they were told Nhaveen died at 5.31pm.
“We hope justice will be done,” he said, adding he has contacted the police investigating officer to request that the case be reclassified as murder although the final decision lies with the attorney-general.
Nhaveen’s relatives and friends gathered at the lobby of the intensive care unit as news of his death spread.
His uncle, R. Thiyagarajan, thanked those who prayed for his nephew and appealed for privacy.
Thiyagarajan also denied the family was soliciting donations and advised the public to disregard a WhatsApp message being circulated to that effect.
Nhaveen and a friend, T. Previin, 19, were at Jalan Kaki Bukit in Gelugor at about 2am on June 9 when they were assaulted by five youths after the group harassed them and the situation escalated into an altercation.
Previin managed to escape but Nhaveen was allegedly beaten and sodomised with an object.
Police subsequently arrested five teenagers, including two students, to assist investigations.
The two students, who were released on police bail on Wednesday, were re-arrested yesterday to assist investigations into another case of beating and extortion involving an employee of a convenience store in Jelutong on May 5, Bernama reported.
Anuar said the three other youths whose remand ends today will also be re-arrested.
“The convenience store employee had lodged a police report after he was beaten and blackmailed by the five. However, he later withdrew the report.”
However, the victim made another report on Wednesday, requesting police to reinvestigate the case because the same suspects were involved in the Nhaveen incident.
Anuar said police were also investigating whether other victims had been bullied and extorted by the five.
He urged those with information of such cases to come forward and lodge reports.