GEORGE TOWN, Feb 9 — An inquest will be held into Vasanthapiriya Muniandy’s death after the police wrap up investigations into the case, Penang Criminal Investigation Department chief Datuk Zainol Samah said.
He said the police are still investigating the case from all angles, and will need to record more statements from witnesses.
“We have opened three investigation papers and the state prosecution office has told us to get more evidence for the second investigation paper,” he said.
He said the police first opened an investigation paper under Section 309 for attempted suicide when the Form Two student was brought to the hospital after hanging herself in her home in Nibong Tebal.
“We have to open an investigation paper on this as it is an offense to attempt suicide under the Penal Code,” he said.
He said later, the student’s uncle lodged a police report alleging a teacher had abused and threatened the student.
“For this case, we looked into several sections and even the Child Act 2001 but the problem with this case is that a lot of it is hearsay,” he said.
He said the police had referred this to the state prosecutor’s office and they had requested for more evidence.
“We then received a third police report by a man alleging that he and the teachers have been defamed by various news reports over this case,” he said.
Overall, he said the police has recorded a total 24 statements.
Zainol then took the media to task for publishing speculations into the whole case.
“Why must the media speculate on this case? There is no need to speculate, just let us investigate, we need time to investigate and we can’t reveal details of our investigations until we have completed it,” he said.
He said the proper procedure is for the police to complete its investigations first before they can submit the reports for an inquest to be held.
“We can then conduct an inquest before a coroner and let the coroner decide, that is the proper procedure,” he said.
He appealed to those who have been issuing statements into the case, including Malaysian Tamilar Kural group president David Marshel, to step forward and assist in the investigations.
“Even the media that has been reporting on this must come forward to help us and give their statements to us,” he said.
Vasanthapiriya hanged herself in her room in the evening of January 24 after her teacher allegedly accused her of stealing her handphone.
The student left a suicide note denying that she had stolen the handphone.
She was found unconscious and was comatose in the intensive care unit of the Seberang Jaya Hospital before she passed away at 3.30am on February 1.
She was laid to rest at the Hindu burial grounds in Jalan Changkat, Nibong Tebal on February 2.
