Message seeking donations in Nhaveen's name is fake, says uncle

GOERGE TOWN: The uncle of deceased teen T. Nhaveen says the family has not sent out a request for monetary aid, which has gone viral on social media.

Nhaveen's uncle R. Thiyagarajan (pic), 50, said he was surprised to see such a message.

"I want to stress that we are not asking for any monetary aid.

"I hope people will respect us and give us space in this trying time," he told reporters while waiting to claim Nhaveen's body at the hospital's mortuary.

The message, which includes a CIMB account number under the name of Shanmugam Mahalingam, asks the recipient to "kindly and lovingly donate some money as our token of compensation for our late dear brother and friend Navi (Nhaveen) who passed away today, Thursday 15th June, 2017.

"You can donate to the account above. Please give wholeheartedly. This collection shall be our humble offering to his family," the message read.

Nhaveen, 18, died at the Penang Hospital at 5.31pm after being savagely beaten by a group of teenagers.

He was found unconscious at around midnight last Saturday at a field in Jalan Kaki Bukit in Bukit Gelugor.

Nhaveen, who was also sodomised and burnt on his back, suffered internal bleeding in his head and abdomen.

Five teenagers have been remanded over the case.