Girl Who Tried To Kill Herself After Being Accused Of Stealing Teacher's iPhone Dies

The 14-year-old died at about 3.30am today, 1 February, without ever regaining consciousness since the incident. She was declared brain-dead and had been comatose since she was found hanging by a shawl in her room.

NST Online reported that the girl died with her parents by her side.

"This is a very sad day, not only for her family but for Malaysians who have been praying for her recovery," NST Online quoted Malaysian Tamilar Kural president David Marshel as saying, who said the family is now waiting for the post-mortem.

The family also claimed that while Vasanthapiriya's friends, who were also questioned by the teachers, defended her by saying she did not steal the phone, the teachers did not allow her to eat during the period she was locked in a room.

The teacher, whose iPhone was stolen, along with her husband had taken the student in their car to the girl's home, where the teacher told her parents about the theft.

After the teacher and husband left the girl's home, she locked herself in her room, leaving a note to her parents, saying that she did not steal the teacher's iPhone.

"Nobody is responsible for my death. I want to thank my lovely parents for taking care of me. I am so sorry. Teacher, I never took your phone. I promise."

According to a report in The Malaysian Insight, which quoted Penang Education Department deputy director Mohd Jamil Mohamed, if a teacher had lost something, he or she should have reported it to the discipline teacher of the school.

"The discipline teacher will then investigate and take action if it is true that a student had done something wrong," Jamil said, adding that the investigations are currently underway and would take "a bit of time to give justice to all parties."