Dead prisoner’s family wants second autopsy

KAJANG: The family of N. Harirajan, 34, who died in prison on April 10, wants a second post-mortem. They say the first is incomplete.
His mother, Letchumi Kanaya, 54, said the first report only disclosed conditions from his neck downwards.
"There was no post-mortem done on his head," she claimed, adding that this was necessary to ascertain whether there was any foul play.
"The second post-mortem may help solve the mystery surrounding my son's death," she told theSun at the Kajang Hospital mortuary.
Letchumi, who is still in shock over her son's sudden death, said: "My son was supposed to be released from prison in two month's time due to good behaviour. I cannot accept the prison authorities' explanation that he died of HIV."
Letchumi said she would not leave any stone unturned until she gets to the truth of her son's death.
Harikrishnan, the younger brother of Harirajan, said his family was puzzled by the latter's death as he did not show any sign of illness.
The first post-mortem report indicated death due to coronary artery disease and retroviral disease (virus that relates to HIV).
"We have doubts about this report because when a person suffers from HIV, he would tend to be skinny and there would be signs of the disease. In the case of my brother, he was plump and healthy," he said.
Harikrishnan said his brother had injuries on his chest with blood oozing from his ears and stitches on the right eye.
Harirajan's family has lodged two reports at the Kajang Police Headquarters, the second one demanding a second post-mortem. The first post-mortem was done on April 12.
PKR's deputy chairman of its human rights and legal bureau, S. Jayathas, claimed that the Kajang magistrate's court had given Harirajan's family a blank paper for them to sign for the release of the body but this had been rejected.
Harirajan died at the Kajang prison on April 10 at 6am and the family was notified only at 3.30pm. The deceased was serving a six-month jail term after he was found guilty of snatch theft.