BY: ERMIZI MUHAMAD
PETALING JAYA, SEP 22: A full inquest and investigation into the shots fired by the Malaysian Royal Police (PDRM) has been filed in the Shah Alam High Court on September 22.
This is following the deaths of Mohamad Shahril Sugumaran Abdullah and S Uvarajan at a roadblock on the Selayang-Kepong Highway on August 19.
Lawyer M Visvanathan said the inquest applications for both victims were lodged simultaneously to allow for a second autopsy to be conducted.
“An inquest application was made for victim Shahril Sugumaran to be exhumed for a second autopsy to be conducted.
“This is the only way to identify the actual cause of death, whether the victim was shot to death or injured,” he said during a media conference at Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) Office.
Hearing for the inquest will be held again at the Shah Alam High Court on October 7.
Prior to this, families of both victims disputed the physical conditions of both bodies which had injuries other than gunshot wounds.
“It is very suspicious when there were not just gunshot wounds but also other injuries on the victims’ bodies. That had raised suspicion on the actual death status, whether the police were telling the truth or otherwise,” he said.
Police, however, claimed that shots were fired after the Proton Waja car was seen driven in a suspicious manner by the victim, and before both victims fired shots at the police.
Police found 11 packets of drugs, two pistols, nine handphones and two identification cards believed not belonging to the victims at the scene.
Meanwhile, SUARAM Executive Director Sevan Doraisamy urged for an extensive investigation to be carried out to ensure justice for both families.
“This matter cannot be taken lightly and must be investigated openly and quickly for us to know the truth. If there is evidence indicating both deaths resulted from police misuse of power, then the matter needs to be given due attention,” he said.
Families request autopsy for gunshot victims
