By Tengku Noor Shamsiah Tengku Abdullah
PETALING JAYA, Dec 3: Lawyers for the families of M. Puspanathan (21), T. Poovaneswaran (24) and G. Logeswaran (29) today accused the police of carrying out an “execution-style killing” in Durian Tunggal, Melaka, rejecting official claims that the three men were shot dead while attacking officers with a parang.
At a special press conference jointly organised by Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) and Legal Unit Agamam Ani Malaysia, the families’ legal team presented a 13-minute audio recording allegedly captured during the incident, which they say contradicts the Royal Malaysia Police’s (PDRM) claim of self-defence.
Arun Dorasamy, Legal Officer at Agamam Ani Malaysia, said the press conference was convened to disclose evidence that has challenged the police’s claim of self-defence.
“This press conference is called to present detailed disclosure on the fatal shooting of the three youths in Durian Tunggal and to challenge the police version that it was self-defence,” Arun said.
He named the three victims and introduced their families, as well as the legal and forensic team assisting them.
Lead counsel Rajesh Nagarajan described the shootings as murder rather than a lawful use of force.
He also disputed the police’s report that the victims had attacked a police officer.
Rajesh also cited forensic findings from preliminary post-mortems conducted at Hospital Melaka, saying the gunshot wounds were inconsistent with self-defence.
He pointed to one of the victims being shot through the nose, with the bullet lodging in the heart.
“If this was self-defence, the exit wound would be at the back of the head. But there is no exit wound. The bullet is now lodged in his heart,” he said.
He added that the trajectory of the bullets showed shots fired from an elevated angle.
“The bullet travelled from top to bottom, at an acute angle between 60 and 80 degrees,” he said.
Based on the angle of the wounds, Rajesh alleged the victims were likely forced into a submissive position.
“It is very obvious that all of them must have been kneeling down. This was an execution-style killing,” he said.
Rajesh also revealed that a crucial piece of evidence came from a recorded phone call between Logeswaran and his wife moments before the shooting.
During the call, he said, Logeswaran believed his vehicle was being followed and was advised by his wife to drive to the nearest police station.
“Before they could reach a police station, they were waylaid and shot dead,” Rajesh said.
Nearly ten minutes of conversation was captured before two minutes of gunfire.
“Does this make any sense as self-defence when police were talking to the victims for almost ten minutes before the shooting?” he asked.
Logeswaran’s wife, Jayshree, also addressed the press and recounted her final conversation with her husband.
“He told me two cars blocked him. They did not have police lights. It looked like a normal car,” she said.
She said her husband did not stop because he was unsure whether the pursuers were police.
The legal team said the shooting may have violated Sections 15 & 16 of the Penal Code on excessive use of force, Regulation 10 of the Police Force (Conduct and Discipline) Regulations, and provisions under the Criminal Procedure Code and Inspector-General of Police Standing Orders (IGSO) governing investigations into deaths involving police officers.
The families also invoked their right to a mandatory inquest under Section 339(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code.
Rajesh insisted that the Melaka police cannot investigate the case themselves.
“The investigation must be done by Bukit Aman,” he said.
The legal team confirmed a police report was lodged after the press conference and reiterated their demand for an Independent Special Investigation Team.
“We demand an impartial investigation,” Rajesh said.
–WE