Autopsy Report Suggests UM Cat Killed by Sharp Object, Contradicting Police Statement
Animal activist Shima Aris accused the university management of complicating the ongoing investigation.
By Yap Wan Xiang — 24 Dec 2024, 01:21 PM
Animal activist Shima Aris revealed that the autopsy report of Lily, a cat that died on the Universiti Malaya (UM) campus, showed she was "highly likely" killed by a sharp object
During a press conference yesterday, 23 December, Shima presented the autopsy report and X-ray scans of Lily, suggesting that her findings from a private veterinary clinic contradicted the police's statement.
"Based on the appearance of the wounds and the clean cuts observed at the joint levels, the lesions are highly likely to have been caused by sharp equipment.
"No other puncture or bite wounds, bite marks, or injuries were observed on the body apart from the described lesions," read the report.
The autopsy also revealed that Lily is believed to have suffered various bone dislocations in her legs, paws, and toes, with the surrounding tissue damage appearing "smooth".
Based on the autopsy report, Shima claimed that the police were mistaken in concluding that the cat died from a dog attack, stating, "It is quite impossible for a dog to inflict injuries like these"
The animal activist called on the police, the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS), and UM to continue their investigation.
Meanwhile, lawyer Rajesh Nagarajan urged DVS to be transparent in its investigation and questioned whether post-mortems had been conducted on the deceased cats.
He also criticised the police for classifying the case as no further action (NFA) after concluding that stray dogs were responsible for the cats' deaths, reported FMT.
In a statement on Sunday, 22 December, Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa said CCTV footage showed the cats were attacked by a pack of stray dogs on multiple occasions on 17, 20, and 21 December
He added that DVS confirmed the injuries sustained by the cats were consistent with wild dog attacks, reported Malay Mail.
However, the DVS noted that some of the cats' bodies had decomposed after they were buried in the vicinity, making it impossible to perform autopsies.
In response, Shima accused the UM management of burying the evidence to complicate the investigation. She asserted that it was the students who exhumed Lily's body and handed it to her for an autopsy, hoping to uncover the truth.
"Something is completely wrong with how you handle the case, UM," she wrote on Instagram.
