Lead counsel Rajesh Nagarajan (in white) speaks during a press conference organised by Lawyers for Liberty and Legal Unit Agamam Ani Malaysia on the fatal police shooting case in Durian Tunggal, Melaka.
Families unveil audio evidence and forensic observations as lawyers call for a federal-level probe into the fatal shooting of three men in Melaka.
By TENGKU NOOR SHAMSIAH TENGKU ABDULLAH
PETALING JAYA, Dec 3 — Questions over police use of deadly force and the investigation process surrounding the fatal shooting of three men in Durian Tunggal, Melaka on Nov 24 were raised at a press conference today, after the victims’ families’ legal team presented audio evidence and forensic observations challenging the official police account.
The three men — M. Puspanathan (21), T. Poovaneswaran (24), and G. Logeswaran (29) — were killed during a police operation, with authorities stating that they had attacked officers with a parang, prompting officers to open fire in self-defence.
At the press conference, jointly organised by Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) and Legal Unit Agamam Ani Malaysia, lawyers for the families presented a 13-minute audio recording captured during the incident, which they said contradicts the Royal Malaysia Police’s (PDRM) version of events.
Legal officer Arun Dorasamy said the briefing was called to disclose information and seek clarity on the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
“This press conference is called to present detailed disclosure on the fatal shooting of the three Indian youths and to challenge the police version that it was self-defence,” he said.
Also present were lead counsel Rajesh Nagarajan and forensic specialist G. Venodthan, founder and CEO of Thistlegorm Forensic, the investigative consultancy that analysed the recording presented at the press conference.
G. Venodthan, founder and CEO of Thistlegorm Forensic
Venodthan said the audio recording suggested the men were under police control shortly after exiting their vehicle.
“From the recording, the men appeared to be restrained immediately after exiting their car, with no audible indication of a parang attack,” he said.
He added that there was no reference to weapons in the recording despite police claims that a parang was recovered at the scene.
“Only the words ‘bonnet’ and ‘walkie-talkie’ were heard. There was no mention of a parang or any other weapon,” he said.
Venodthan also said multiple sounds consistent with gunfire could be heard after the men had been restrained.
“Several gunshot-like sounds were heard after the men were restrained,” he said.
Rajesh rejected the official police narrative and said forensic findings raised serious concerns.
“This is pure fabrication,” he said of the police version of events.
He referred to preliminary post-mortem findings from Hospital Melaka which, according to him, showed bullet trajectories inconsistent with a face-to-face confrontation.
“The bullet travelled from top to bottom at a steep angle,” he said.
Rajesh said the nature of the injuries warranted deeper examination into how force was applied.
The audio recording originated from a phone call between Logeswaran and his wife, Jayshree, shortly before the shooting. She told reporters that her husband was unsure whether those following him were law enforcement officers.
“It didn’t look like a police car with a blue light,” she said.
The legal team said the incident potentially involved breaches of the Penal Code, the Police Force (Conduct and Discipline) Regulations, the Criminal Procedure Code, and the Inspector-General’s Standing Orders governing deaths during police operations.
They have also invoked their right to a mandatory inquest under Section 339(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code.
Rajesh said a police report was lodged following the press conference and requested that the investigation be transferred to Bukit Aman.
“The wrongdoers cannot investigate themselves. The investigation must be done by Bukit Aman,” he said.
The families are seeking the establishment of an Independent Special Investigation Team and an independent forensic review of all available evidence.
As of publication, PDRM has not issued a public response to the claims raised at the press conference.
- TNS NEWS