SHAH ALAM: The mother of the late Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Reserve Officers’ Training Unit (Palapes) cadet has urged that his remains to be exhumed within 48 hours following a High Court order for a second post-mortem.
This came after High Court judge Datuk Bhupindar Singh Gurcharan Singh Preet ordered the exhumation of and second post-mortem on the body of Syamsul Haris Shamsudin, 22, who died on July 28.
Lawyer Datuk Naran Singh, who is representing the mother, Ummu Haiman Bee Daulatgun, 45, made the same call, adding that the onus was now on the inspector-general of police to fix the date of the exhumation following the court order.
“The IGP must set a date for the exhumation.
“While the judge did not stipulate a specific timeframe, the Interpretation Act states that when no period is mentioned, it should be carried out as soon as practicable,” Naran told the New Straits Times.
“We hope the process will be expedited. Prompt action will reflect the police’s efficiency, compassion and expeditiousness,” he said.
Naran said once exhumed, Syamsul’s remains will be sent to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital mortuary, where a forensic pathologist will conduct the post mortem and be reburied on the same day.
“The body of a Muslim should not remain unburied for long. If exhumed in the morning, the post mortem can be done in the afternoon and reburial taking place immediately after,” he said.
Naran said in addition to the police, the exhumation process would also involve other relevant parties, including the religious department, and the process must be conducted with respect.
Separately, Naran urged Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin to reopen investigations into Syamsul’s death, which occurred while he was undergoing training at the Combat Inoculation Firing Range of the Army Combat Training Centre in Ulu Tiram, Johor.
“In a press statement, Khaled claimed there were no injuries (on his body). We dispute that.
“We have presented photographs of Syamsul’s injuries in court, which were marked as exhibits and the senior federal counsels from the Home Ministry have a copy of it.
“I am willing to be a member of the new investigation committee and will render my services pro-bono,” he said.
Earlier, Bhupindar ordered the remains of Syamsul, buried on July 29 at the Kampung Rinching Ulu Muslim cemetery in Semenyih, to be exhumed and a second post mortem to be conducted under the supervision of the inspector-general of police or his officers, who can seek assistance from the relevant parties if necessary.
In his second order, the judge said a forensic pathologist from Kuala Lumpur Hospital is to conduct the post-mortem within 14-days after exhumation in the presence of forensic expert Datuk Seri Dr Bhupinder Singh and Naran, both appointed by Ummu Haiman.
The third order is for the forensic pathologist conducting the post mortem to issue the report within a reasonable period from the date it is conducted, and a copy of the report be given to the Messrs Naran Singh and Co.
Bhupindar, however, made no order to the requests for a task force from the federal police to take over investigations into Syamsul death and an inquest into the cause of death.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
