PETALING JAYA: A lawyer representing the family of a Nigerian who died in the custody of the Immigration Department has slammed Putrajaya’s human rights commission for stating that the student’s death was not due to torture.
Rajesh Nagarajan said it was “inexcusable and unprecedented” for a commissioner from the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia to release the findings of its probe just two weeks before the inquest is to be held into Thomas Orhions Ewansiha’s death.“Suhakam commissioner Jerald Joseph has no basis in making such a statement as no formal inquiry had been carried out by Suhakam,” he told FMT.
Thomas, 34, died at the Bukit Jalil detention centre in July after he was arrested alongside 19 others during a raid at the Desa Aman Puri Apartment in Kepong, Selangor.The Immigration Department said the PhD student at Limkokwing University had experienced a seizure prior to his death but denied any foul play.
In August, Thomas’ widow, Blessing Uhunoma Eriamiator, sought an inquest into his death claiming that her husband was assaulted while in custody, following testimony of witnesses.Checks with the forensic authorities, Jerald said, revealed that Thomas died from heart failure, while the Immigration Department had delayed in providing medication for him.Rajesh, however, said he was appalled that Jerald issued the statement without seeking views or feedback from family members or their solicitors.
“Jerald has also preemptively decided Thomas’ cause of death which should rightly be decided by the Kuala Lumpur Coroner’s Court.”