Friday March 12, 2010
Cops won’t bow to pressure in toddler’s murder case
By STEVEN DANIEL and STEVEN CHIEW
PETALING JAYA: Police will not bow to pressure and release the suspect detained in connection with the murder of toddler K. Hareswarra despite 16 people lodging police reports claiming his innocence.
The reports were made by the suspect’s family and neigbours since Tuesday, said Petaling Jaya OCPD Asst Comm Arjunaidi Mohamed.
“Out of the 16 reports, one claimed to have witnessed the victim’s (Hareswarra) mother dangling him over the balcony of their flat in March last year.
“The rest of the reports vouched that the suspect in custody was of good character,” ACP Arjunaidi said during a press conference at the district police headquarters yesterday.
ACP Arjunaidi said that although there were allegations that the victim’s mother could have been abusive, it was not the cause of death.
“The cause of death is due to new injuries and also based on circumstantial evidence.
“That is why we have reason to detain the suspect for further investigations,” he said, adding that the police had to take into account the views of an expert pathologist, witnesses and initial hospital reports.
ACP Arjunaidi also expressed dismay that the person claiming to have witnessed the abuse of 18-month-old Hareswarra only came forward after the baby died.
“It’s too late, why not report the abuse when the child was still alive?” he asked.
To a question, he denied allegations of police brutality while the suspect was in custody.
ACP Arjunaidi said police would apply to extend the remand order for the suspect.
Meanwhile, a group of about 20 people accompanied by Kapar MP S. Manikavasagam handed a memorandum to the Inspector-General of Police calling for a thorough investigation.
Hareswarra was pronounced dead upon arrival at the University Malaya Medical Centre on March 3.
He had six broken ribs and a ruptured liver, in addition to some old and new bruises.
It was also learnt that there were fingernail marks on the boy’s private parts and one of his testicles was swollen.
Hareswarra’s father had said his wife had sent their son to the flat belonging to a friend at Kampung Sungai Kayu Ara.
The suspect, who is the former babysitter’s husband, was said to have taken the boy to buy chocolate.
The man claimed in his report that the child choked on a chewing gum.
The 23-year-old housewife and her husband have been remanded for seven days to assist in investigations.
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