KUALA LUMPUR – The family of deceased navy trainee J. Soosaimanicckam today submitted a memorandum to Bukit Aman, urging an official police investigation into his death.
Previously, Scoop reported that on July 29, the Ipoh High Court had determined Soosaimanicckam’s death to be a homicide.
Zaid Malek, the family’s lawyer and director of legal rights group Lawyers for Liberty, explained that the memorandum was submitted due to the police’s lack of action following the high court’s ruling.
“In line with the Ipoh High Court’s ruling on July 29, 2024, which attributed Soosaimanicckam’s death to the navy officers responsible for the training, our memorandum highlights the police’s failure to adequately address the inquest into this matter.
“The family lodged a police report at Petaling Jaya police station on 1 August 2024. However, since then, they have not been informed of any actions taken, such as whether an investigation was initiated,” he told reporters after submitting the memorandum.
The family had previously announced their intention to lodge a police report, urging authorities to investigate the Royal Malaysian Navy for their son’s murder.
Zaid said that the family’s police report demands a murder investigation under Section 302 of the Penal Code, following the high court’s ruling.
He stressed that the police should have commenced the investigation sooner, given the court’s homicide ruling and the gravity of the case.
“Today, we have taken the initial step by submitting a memorandum to the Inspector General of Police via Bukit Aman police, to ensure an investigation is conducted, given the seriousness of a potential homicide. How can there be no investigation, especially after the court’s ruling?
“In the memorandum, we request that Bukit Aman police form a dedicated investigation team for this case, ensuring a transparent and thorough investigation.
“We also seek an explanation for the police’s failure to investigate this matter. Why was it not considered that a person, with no prior health issues and cleared for navy training, suddenly died just a week after beginning?
“Navy training involves rigorous fitness tests and medical evaluations, so this situation warrants further scrutiny,” he said.
Soosaimanicckam’s father, S. Joseph, briefly urged the police to investigate, stating that “no one is above the law.”
Charles Joseph, the late trainee’s brother, hopes for an end to the family’s emotional turmoil and for those responsible for his brother’s death to be brought to justice.
“My family has been emotionally and mentally affected for nearly seven years. Please be transparent. My brother passed away in 2018, and now, in 2024, there has been little news beyond the Ipoh High Court’s ruling of homicide.
“With this decision, we ask the police to open a fair investigation on behalf of the deceased. We sent our brother to the navy to serve the country. If something like this happens, how can we trust to serve the country? We want justice and transparency,” he said.
The family is pursuing an investigation due to a sessions court hearing on July 30, where the defendant, Lt Cdr Muhammad Faiz Mohamed Zanila, testified that Soosaimanicckam’s medical examination report was missing an officer-in-charge signature.
This oversight prevented Soosaimanicckam from seeking further medical attention outside the navy camp in Lumut, Perak, in 2018.
Datuk Seri Dr Bhupinder Singh, another witness who testified during the sessions court, said Soosaimaniccam could have survived the given proper treatment.
“In my opinion, if the deceased had been referred to a medical institution early, recovery would have been possible.” – August 8, 2024.