The Thaqif case is getting more confounding following the release of the second autopsy report.
- Cops still probing Thaqif’s death
- School insists case closed
- School says second autopsy report proves no abuse to students
- First autopsy already revealed evidence of abuse
- No clue where Thaqif could have been exposed to leptospirosis
- Ex-convict suspect still free on court bond
- Case no longer classified as murder
- Possibility of an inquest
- Thaqif’s parents seeking legal action
Johor police said yesterday that it will continue its investigation, with newly-appointed Johor Criminal Investigation Department chief Senior Assistant Commissioner Azman Ayob saying that the investigation papers will still be forwarded to the deputy public prosecutor to seek advice on the case.
“The case is still on-going and there is no such thing that it will be closed, as claimed by certain parties,” Azman said
However, Madrasah Tahfiz Al Jauhar (MTAJ), the private religious school in Johor where Thaqif studied has considered the case closed following the leptospirosis finding.
Its principal, Mohammad Afdhaluddin Ismail, claimed that the autopsy report proved that the tahfiz school does not subject its students to abuse.
Despite his claim, the first autopsy had revealed evidence of abuse but had failed to find the cause of death.
Furthermore, the second autopsy report did not cover the existence of alleged abuse in the school but only revealed that Mohamad Thaqif Amin Mohd Gaddafi died from leptospirosis and not from injuries.
As to where Thaqif could have been exposed to leptospirosis, nobody seems to have a clue.
According to the principal, the period that the boy attended the school and stayed at its dormitory he had never been reported of being ill.
“As far our records show, Thaqif was in the best of health when he was studying here and when we returned him back to his family on his last day here,” Afdhaluddin said.
None of the other students and staff members had been reported of falling sick due to leptospirosis, Afdhaluddin added.
The boy was allegedly abused on Mar 24 but was only warded on Apr 19, where he was found to have massive bacterial infection in all his limbs and kidney failure.
He then had both legs amputated below the knee and had been scheduled to have his right forearm amputated, but he died on Apr 26 before the surgery could take place.
The 29-year-old assistant warden at the school had allegedly beaten Thaqif on the soles of his feet with a rubber hose. An ex-convict, he was freed on a RM20,000 police bail on May 3 and is still suspended from duty.
According to Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Noor Rashid Ibrahim, the case was no longer classified as murder.
“We may investigate it as causing harm,” he said.
He added that police may also recommend an inquest to determine the circumstances of Thaqif’s death.
Thaqif’s mother, Felda Wani Ahmad, has rejected the leptospirosis finding and was very upset that she learned of it through the media and not the authorities.
According to the Health Ministry, the postmortem results were submitted to the police last week.
“In the event that the case does not involve police investigation, we would have informed the boy’s parents.
“But because it is a police case, we have given all our findings to the authorities and it’s up to them to inform the parents,” Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S Subramaniam said.
“Whatever information from the postmortem will become evidence in court. Therefore, we can’t release such information to the public. Only the police could do that,” he added.
However, he said Thaqif’s parents were welcome to discuss the matter with the Ministry.
“We are willing to give them any explanation they need.” he said.
Following the latest autopsy result, the Ministry said it would investigate the cause of the leptospirosis infection at the school, Thaqif’s home and the surrounding areas.
Earlier reports:
Jul 10, Rat Urine Not Beatings That Killed Alleged Abuse Victim Thaqif
Jun 19, Thaqif’s Famly Demands Second Autopsy Report
Apr 26, Johor Schoolboy in Abuse Case Dies