Piremilah Sinasamy, 42, was represented by lawyer Melissa Sasidaran, who said Thanaseelan’s death was proof the hospital and doctor had not given him the attention and treatment they would have given a regular patient.
“Thanaseelan was taken to hospital, but was not given proper treatment there before returning to police custody.
“The victim died several hours after his treatment at the hospital. How could the hospital doctors have failed to see the seriousness of his problem?
“It was because they did not treat him as they would have treated other patients,” Melissa told FMT.
Thanaseelan was found unconscious in the police lock-up in Bukit Sentosa, Hulu Selangor, and was pronounced dead at the Sungai Buloh Hospital on Feb 25.
The pathology report by Dr Ruzain Rahimi of Sungai Buloh Hospital stated that Thanaseelan died of blood poisoning from gastric ulcers.
Before he was taken to the Sungai Buloh Hospital on Feb 24, Thanaseelan was taken to the Kuala Kubu Bharu Hospital because he was unable to eat and had vomited. He was taken back to the police station where he remained in detention.
Earlier, Piremilah handed over a memorandum to Health Ministry public relations officer Devaraj Subramaniam.
In addition to the demand for action against the hospital and doctors, Piremilah also demanded the investigation into her husband’s death be carried out in an open, transparent and professional manner.
Thanaseelan was the sole family provider, and since his death, Piremilah, who lives in Rawang, Selangor, has had no income.
“I am unable to do anything. I have four children who are all in school. I suffer from asthma and need treatment, which has stopped me from getting work in a factory,” she said.
Aid, whether in cash or kind, has not been forthcoming from the state and federal government, she said.
“I personally do not know anyone who will help, and until now, I have not received any help from anybody.
“Rent for the house is two months overdue,” she said.
According to The Star Online, Kuala Kubu Bahru Hospital confirmed that Thanaseelan had not been warded. However, its outpatient clinic was unable to confirm whether he had been treated there.
Thanaseelan was detained in Bukit Beruntung on Feb 21 on suspicion of involvement in a robbery.. He was remanded from Feb 22 to 25.
His death has come to the attention of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia and the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission is investigating the case.