The first autopsy on Universiti Teknologi Malaysia cadet Syamsul Haris Shamsudin was conducted in full compliance with established forensic procedures, says the health ministry.
This comes after Syamsul’s family sought an explanation as to why his first autopsy was conducted by a medical officer instead of a forensic specialist.
“While the post-mortem was performed by a medical officer, all forensic autopsies are conducted under the supervision of a forensic pathologist,” the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry also affirmed its commitment to ensuring that all autopsy procedures are carried out professionally, with integrity and in accordance with medical science, to safeguard justice and transparency in every investigation.
Yesterday, the lawyer representing Syamsul’s family, Naran Singh, said official letters had been sent to the Kota Tinggi Hospital director and a forensic specialist at Sultan Ismail Hospital seeking clarification.
He said Syamsul’s mother, Ummu Haiman Bee Daulatgun, had objected to a medical officer conducting the procedure when her son’s body was first brought to the Kota Tinggi Hospital on July 29.
He also said after the body was transferred to Sultan Ismail Hospital, some 30km away, the same medical officer still conducted the post-mortem.
The ministry explained that after the case was referred to a forensic pathologist, the cadet’s body was taken to the Sultan Ismail Hospital, which is equipped with complete facilities to ensure a thorough and detailed examination.
“The post-mortem was carried out by a medical officer from the hospital’s department of forensic medicine and not by a medical officer from Kota Tinggi Hospital as claimed,” it added.
Syamsul, 22, the eldest of three siblings, died on July 28 under unclear circumstances while undergoing reserve officer training unit training at the army combat training centre in Ulu Tiram, Johor.
He began training on July 26 and was expected to finish on Aug 3.
On Aug 26, the High Court ordered Syamsul’s body to be exhumed for a second post-mortem.
The report from the second autopsy is still pending.
