The Malaysian Insight

THERE is no foul play in the death of Gopal Krisnan Rajalinggam, 21, who had died while in prison last Wednesday, said Kuala Muda police chief Adzly Abu Shah.

An activist had earlier claimed that Gopal had died in the remand prison at Sg Petani, Kedah from beatings he received in prison.

However, Adzly said the post mortem on Gopal showed that he had died due to bacterial infection of the heart valve.

The post-mortem was conducted at Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah Alor Setar today.

“The post mortem was conducted by the hospital’s forensic expert Dr Mohd Suhaini Mohd Noor between 9.30am and 1.30pm.

“The outcome of the post mortem was that there were no external injuries on the victim, and that there were no foul play in his death.

“The cause of his death was due to bacterial infection of the heart valve (infectine endorcardites),” said Adzly in a statement.

Yesterday, Seberang Perai councillor and rights activist P. David Marshel said Gopal was pronounced dead at the Sg Petani Hospital at 2.30pm after he was warded for an unspecified ailment last Wednesday.

He said that Gopal had informed his mother and fiancée during their visit to see him that the wardens often beat him without any reasons.

David said when the family visited him in hospital, he was unconscious and had wounds on both his arms. Parts of his body were also swollen.

“When the family asked the doctor what was wrong, the doctor told them he had a lung infection. He never woke up,” he said.

David said the family called him for help as Gopal did not have any health issues before his detention.

Gopal was being investigated for a drug offence and was arrested in Penang on May 12 and placed at the remand prison while waiting for his next case mention.

In a police report lodged by Gopal’s fiancée this morning, Tan Sze Lin, 20, she said on June 4, when she and Gopal’s mother visited him in prison, Gopal claimed that he was assaulted by the prison wardens.

“Gopal was crying when he told us that he was hit in the head. He had also told the wardens that he was feverish and was throwing up.

“The wardens then told Gopal to roll on a tarred road as they did not believe he was ill,” the report read. – July 31, 2019.