A 47-year-old teacher told a Coroner’s Court here that the late student M Vasantha Piriya admitted to taking a teacher’s handphone with a friend.
S Paramasivam told the court that Vasantha Piriya, 14, said “we did it” but added that she was only standing outside the teacher’s room.
“She told me and the teacher who lost her handphone, that she only stood outside the teacher’s room while her friend when into the room to take it,” he said.
Paramasivam said in his testimony on Thursday (May 24) that Vasantha Piriya asked the teacher to take her to her friend’s house to get the handphone back.
He was testifying in the inquest into Vasantha Piriya’s death following the accusation that she stole her teacher’s handphone.
On Jan 24, a teacher was reported to have accused and reprimanded Vasantha Piriya for stealing her handphone at the school before sending her home later.
After arriving home, the girl’s father R Muniandy went out with the teacher to discuss the matter.
The Form Two girl was found unconscious in her room after her father broke down the door when he returned home and his calls went unanswered.
She had locked the room door and placed a chair against the door to prevent it from being opened.
The SMK Methodist student was rushed to the nearby Sungai Bakap Hospital before being transferred to Seberang Jaya Hospital, where she passed away on Feb 1 after being in a coma for seven days.
Vasantha left a note maintaining her innocence.
DPP Yusaini Amer Abdul Karim and JG Kaameni are conducting the inquest before the coroner, Sessions Court judge Norsalha Hamzah
Lawyers Paramjit Singh and Sukhinderpal Singh are holding a watching brief for the Vasantha Priya and non-governmental organisation Malaysian Tamilar Kural while V Parthipan, is holding a watching brief for the teacher.
The inquest will continue on Friday (May 25). – The Star
Related reports:
Feb 12, CCTV Footage Allegedly Shows Vasanthapiriya Taking Handphone
Feb 9, Inquest into Death of Student Accused of Stealing Teacher’s iPhone
Feb 6, Emotions Still Raw Nearly a Week After Vasanthapiriya’s Death
Feb 2, Girl Accused of Phone Theft Laid to Rest
Feb 1, Accused of Stealing Teacher’s Handphone, Girl Who Attempted Suicide Dies
Jan 27, Form Two Girl in Suicide Bid After Teacher Accuses Her of Stealing Handphone