AG okays inquest into death of girl accused of stealing iPhone

16-Mar-2018, 15:45

16 Mar 2018, 15:45

More than 30 witnesses will testify at the inquest, more than a month after the Form Two girl died following a suicide attempt.

Free Malaysia Today — M Vasanthapiriya died a week after she was found hanging in her bedroom in an apparent suicide attempt.

GEORGE TOWN:

A coroner’s court will begin its inquest into the death of the late M Vasanthapiriya on Mar 30, more than a month after the Form Two student was found hanging in her bedroom and left a suicide note denying an accusation that she stole her teacher’s iPhone.

Penang police chief A Thaiveegan said the attorney-general gave the nod for the inquest last month.

“The inquest will bare all the evidence and circumstances surrounding her death,” he told FMT.

He said as of now, more than 30 people are expected to testify at the inquest, depending on the coroner’s instructions.

An inquest is usually held when there are reasons to suspect that a person had died in a sudden or unnatural manner. It is held by a coroner, usually a presiding magistrate.

It is not a trial where a person can be found guilty of an offence or be civilly liable, but to ascertain the truth as to what happened.

Vasanthapiriya, a student of SMK Methodist Nibong Tebal, attempted to take her own life on Jan 24 after being accused of stealing her teacher’s iPhone. She died a week later without regaining consciousness.

Her uncle had in a police report alleged that she had been confined by her teacher in school, before she was brought to her parents five hours later.