To appeal against the acquittal and discharge of five individuals allegedly responsible for Nhaveen’s death by bullying.
It was an emotional moment as Shanti Dorairaj, the mother of T Nhaveen, submitted a memorandum to the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) today to appeal against the acquittal and discharge of five individuals allegedly responsible for his death by bullying.
The distraught mother was accompanied by Arun Dorasamy, the chairperson of the Nhaveen Action & Investigation League (NAIL), the case’s main witness T Previin, and almost 200 relatives and friends.
Upon arrival at the AGC complex in Putrajaya at about 2.30pm, the group was informed by one of its officers that the AGC had already filed an appeal earlier at 11.43am.
Hearing this, Shanti broke down, albeit in tears of joy. With the appeal filed, Shanti cancelled her plan to go on a hunger strike starting Monday, should the appeal not be filed by Sunday.
Speaking to reporters later, Shanti said that she was very happy to hear about the appeal being filed.
“I thank everyone who supported me in pursuing this. This is a boost to motivate me over the pain I have felt over the last six years. I need this support to last until the battle is won.
“My son suffered. No other children should undergo the same fate. Justice must be served no matter what,” Shanti said, her voice breaking.
Shanti lamented about the ‘twisted’ stories of her late son being spread by irresponsible quarters. She did not elaborate.
“My son was a noble soul. At home, he did not even allow me to kill an insect. He would take it in his hands and let it outside. And this happened to him. I can’t describe this pain,” she sobbed.
Earlier, Arun said that NAIL had two requests upon filing the appeal.
The first is for the AGC to bring in veteran lawyer V Sithambaram to hold a watching brief on behalf of the government when it goes to the appeal stage.
According to Arun, this is because the case requires a “specialist’s” handling.
Secondly, Arun urged the five accused to be rearrested pending the appeal process.
“These are the things I’m putting forward on behalf of the family, the people, and the action team.”
Earlier this month, the High Court in George Town acquitted and discharged five individuals for the death of Nhaveen, who was allegedly killed due to violent bullying in 2017.
Judge Mohd Radzi Abdul Hamid gave the order to S Gopinaath, 32, J Ragesuthan, 24, and S Gokulan, 24, and two others, who were juveniles at the time of the incident, after finding that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case at the end of the prosecution’s case.
He said the court found that there were conflicting versions in the witness statements regarding several incidents and also the failure by the prosecution to call an important witness in the case, who is the victim’s friend known as Preevin.
The five friends were charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code with murdering Nhaveen near the Karpal Singh Learning Centre in Jalan Kaki Bukit, Gelugor, between 11pm and midnight on June 9, 2017.
They were also charged under Section 326 of the same law with voluntarily causing grievous hurt using dangerous weapons on Nhaveen, 18, at the same place, date, and time. – Malaysiakini