Calling the revelation that Nik Muhammad Baihaqy Nik Mat had died due to abuse as shocking, his eldest sister Nik Norliliwati, 44, told The Star the family wants justice to be served.
“We are leaving it to the police to carry out detailed investigations, and will wait for a full decision from the authorities.
“But we may appoint a lawyer. We will uphold justice, especially for his family,” Norliliwati was quoted as saying, referring to Baihaqy’s wife and three children, aged four, two and 10 months.
Baihaqy, 28, and Muhammad Lailatulman Mohd Sukri, 26, died on Friday at the Sungai Wangi detention room in Sitiawan, Perak. The navy had initially released a statement saying that the duo died after experiencing vomiting, exhaustion and shortness of breath due to physical training.
However, yesterday, Perak Criminal Investigation head Gan Tian Kee said police believed the two navy personnel – Baihaqy, 28, and Muhammad Lailatulman Mohd Sukri, 26 – had been tortured.
The police, which had initially classified the case as sudden death, have since reclassified it as murder based on the post-mortem report from the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital in Ipoh, which had revealed signs of abuse and injuries on their bodies.
The post mortem had also contradicted the Royal Malaysian Navy, which had released a statement on Friday saying that initial checks by its doctor on duty showed that “there was no sign of beating or physical abuse on the bodies of the two personnel”.
Police have arrested three suspects, aged between 29 and 44, to facilitate investigation in the case.
Meanwhile, Baihaqy’s wife told reporters at the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital on Saturday, that she would not take his death lightly if criminal elements were found to be the cause.
Noor Bazlin, who works as a nurse at the Datuk Keramat health clinic in Kuala Lumpur, said she knew her husband had been placed under detention since Wednesday night having reported late for work twice.
“He told me to take care of the children and he will come home soon. He called me at 11pm and again at 11.41pm on Thursday, telling me not to worry as everything will be settled soon, and that he will leave the job.
“However, I received a call from the Navy officers at about 5.30pm on Friday, informing me about his death,” she was quoted as saying by The Star.
She added that Baihaqy joined the navy nine years ago and was transferred to the Lumut navy base in 2015.
“Ever since then, he constantly complained about work stress. He told me he wanted to quit and start his own business,” she said, according to the daily.