Transgender dies after phone row

KLANG: A transgender woman has died from injuries sustained after allegedly falling from a moving vehicle during an argument over a stolen handphone.

Her death comes less than a month after another transgender woman was killed – also over a stolen handphone.

In the latest case, the 39-year-old Sabahan was said to have fallen from the vehicle after being accused of stealing a handphone.

It is believed that she denied stealing it.

A 55-year-old man, believed to be the driver, was arrested a few hours after the incident and remanded for seven days.

South Klang OCPD Asst Comm Shamsul Amar Ramli said they received a call at 3.43pm on Tuesday from a Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah (HTAR) medical assistant about the woman’s body at the hospital.

Police were informed that the woman was believed to have fallen out of a moving vehicle in Jalan Batu Nilam, Bukit Tinggi 2, said ACP Shamsul Amar.

She was confirmed dead by ambulance personnel at the scene of the incident.

“A check of the victim’s handbag did not reveal any identification,” said ACP Shamsul Amar. He said a forensic examination later revealed the victim was a transgender woman.

“The victim suffered injuries on both knees, left ankle, left eyebrow and nose, suspected to have been caused by falling out of the car,” said ACP Shamsul Amar.

A post-mortem conducted by HTAR’s Dr Kartini Md Ariff also indicated severe head injuries as the cause of death.

Upon further investigation, it was found that the woman was involved in three drug-related cases.

ACP Shamsul Amar said the incident was not a hate crime against the transgender community.

On Dec 12, a transgender woman lost her life after being accused of stealing a handphone, also in Bukit Tinggi 2.

The woman, also a Sabahan, died after she was severely beaten up by several youths.

A 21-year-old man and three teenagers were arrested over the incident.