Police Say They Have Obtained A-G's Approval For Public Inquest Into Vasanthapiriya's Case
Here's all you need to know.
By Sadho Ram — 23 Feb 2018, 04:26 PM
On Thursday, during a press conference at the district police headquarters in Nibong Tebal, Penang Police Chief Commissioner told reporters that the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) has approved a public inquest into the death of Vasanthapiriya
However, the date of commencement for the inquest had yet to be announced.
"The faster we get the date, the faster we will announce it," Commissioner Thaiveegan was quoted as saying by The Star Online.
The Commissioner added that the inquest will be an open hearing and more than 30 witnesses would be called upon to testify
"There may be more (people) testifying, depending on how the hearing goes," Thaiveegan was reported by NST Online as saying, who also assured that police would continue to carry out their job in a professional manner.
"Just come forward if you have any information. That is the best," he added.
When asked about a police report lodged by the teacher, who had been receiving death threats, Thaiveegan declined to comment
"Wait for the inquest. We can no longer comment on the case," he said.
Commissioner Thaiveegan, however, mentioned Vasanthapiriya's case briefly during a dialogue session that was attended by 400 students, 60 teachers and staff from Tamil schools in the Seberang Prai Selatan district.
"People have asked me whether police are covering up the case. We investigated it in detail. We have completed our investigations. Now, we have the green light to hold an inquest. We are fully committed to the case," he said, according to NST Online.
Vasanthapiriya's father, meanwhile, is clinging to the hope that the soon-to-be-held public inquest proceedings will uncover the truth behind the tragedy and help his family find closure over their loss
"Never a day goes by when we do not think about our little girl.
"Indeed, we are grateful to the Attorney General (AG) for giving the green light for the inquest. We will finally know what happened.
"We really hope to get to the bottom of things and find out what triggered our girl to take her life, because the stolen iPhone was never found on her," the 54-year-old father was quoted as saying by NST Online today, 23 February.
While commenting on the reports that CCTV footage allegedly shows Vasanthapiriya taking the teacher's iPhone, the father said:
"That is not true at all. Our girl would never have done such a thing," adding that the family would like to see for themselves the CCTV footage of the incident.
Vasanthapiriya's death, who passed away without regaining consciousness on the morning of 1 February following a suicide attempt after being accused of stealing her teacher's iPhone last month, sparked a huge public outcry. Read all about the case here: