Call for inquest into girl’s death

GEORGE TOWN: Penang police will recommend an inquest to look into the tragic death of 14-year-old M. Vasantha Piriya who was accused of stealing her teacher’s handphone.

Its CID chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk Zainol Samah said the move would allow the coroner to look into all the statements of the investigation.

He, however, said they had not reached that stage yet.

“We have to complete the necessary. Once that is done, we will give our recommendation to the Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) office that an inquest be conducted on this case,” he said during a press conference at the Penang police headquarters yesterday.

On Jan 24, the teacher allegedly accused and reprimanded Vasantha Piriya for stealing her iPhone 6 at the school before sending her home later.

After arriving home, the girl’s father R. Muniandy, 52, went out with the teacher to discuss the matter.

Later, he broke into Vasantha Piriya’s room and found her unconscious.

She was rushed to Sungai Bakap Hospital before being transferred to Seberang Jaya Hospital where she passed away on Feb 1.

She left a note to maintain her innocence.

SAC Zainol said the case was first investigated under Section 309 of the Penal Code for attempted suicide before it was classified under sudden death report (SDR) when she passed away.

He said the investigation paper on the attempted suicide was submitted to the DPP office which responded with no further action (NFA).

On the report lodged by the girl’s uncle who was unhappy with the teacher, SAC Zainol said the DPP office had requested them to conduct further investigation to find new leads.

On another police report lodged by a man claiming that many news reports were slanderous against the teacher, SAC Zainol said the report was being probed for spreading false news and defamation.

He said police would also call up Malaysian Tamilar Kural president David Marshel, who claimed to represent the family of Vasantha Piriya in the incident, to assist in the probe.

“There were many unverified information made in connection to this case and we have to call up those who made those remarks to assist in the probe.

“We need to look for them and record their statements.

“Whoever made untrue statements have to bear the consequences,” he said, adding that pressmen should be responsible in their reporting and only report verified and confirmed news.

On an unrelated development, SAC Zainol said the two Nepalese, who were admitted to Penang Hospital with severe fatigue after consuming premix durian coffee, were tested positive for drugs.

“The urine test results showed they were tested positive for methamphetamine,” he said.