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Thursday, January 29, 2009

> Different results from two autopsies

Initial results of the second autopsy on Kugan Ananthan, who died mysteriously in police custody on Jan 20, is contrary to the one undertaken by government pathologists, and goes beyond “water in the lungs” as the cause of death, Kapar MP S. Manickavasagam said today.

“Kugan’s family and lawyers already know the results of the post-mortem but have been urged by the forensic pathologist, who carried out post mortem, not to disclose it until his report is completed,” Manickavasagam said today after attending Kugan’s funeral.

He disclosed that tissue samples taken by the pathologist attached to the University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) will be sent to Singapore for analysis. The first autopsy was done in the Serdang Hospital.

The politician said contrary to press reports, Kugan’s family had asked for the second post-mortem to be done and the cost was paid by Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo.

“Therefore the results will be given to the family and lawyers first and not the government as reported,” he added

Meanwhile, Manikavasagam said he will lodge a police report against Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar at  the Brickfields police station tomorrow, claiming the Selangor police chief had lied about a mob barging into the Serdang Hospital mortuary and tampered with Kugan’s remains.

“I have an hour long recording that will show that there was no mob, only grieving family and friends who were let in by an attendant, at the mortuary,” he added.

Meanwhile several Pakatan Rakyat politicians and lawyers lashed out at police for their excessive force while the family members went to claim his body for the UMMC mortuary and extensive police presence during the entire funeral.

Lawyer N.Surendren said family members initially had to “negotiate with police” to let them through a police cordon at UMMC to claim the body.

“This was totally unnecessary as they knew we were coming to claim the body for the funeral, today.”

Subang MP Sivarasa Rasiah said there was an excessive police presence at every stage of the funeral.

“Why was there a need for such a big police presence when all we wanted to do was claim the body and have the funeral.” he asked.

Meanwhile Penang deputy Chief Minister and Perai state assemblyman Dr P Ramasamy, who was also at the funeral, urged the government to implement the proposed Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPMC) without further delay.

“Let Kugan be the last death in custody and not wait for another case.” he said - The Malaysian Insider.