Teen accused of stealing teacher’s iPhone dies

Updated 6 years ago · Published on 1 Feb 2018 9:05AM · 7 Comments

Muniandy Ratnam (second right) telling Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng on Monday what happened to his daughter M. Vasanthapiriya, who tried to kill herself after being accused of stealing her teacher’s phone in school last week. – The Malaysian Insight pic, February 1, 2018.

A 13-YEAR-OLD girl who attempted suicide after being accused of stealing a teacher’s handphone has died.

M. Vasanthapiriya died about 3.30am today after lying in coma at the Seberang Jaya Hospital’s intensive care unit for two weeks.

Malaysian Tamilar Kural president David Marshel said the girl’s family were currently claiming the body at the hospital.

The Nibong Tebal SMK Methodist pupil was accused of stealing a teacher’s iPhone 6 at school on January 24. She was reportedly questioned by three teachers, including the one who said her smartphone was stolen.

After being taken home by the teacher concerned and her husband, where they confronted her parents, Vasanthapiriya locked herself in her room.

When the parents returned later at night, Vasanthapiriya did not answer after they called her repeatedly. The father broke into the room and found the teen hanged to a pipe.

She was still alive when they found her. She reportedly left a suicide note, saying she did not steal her teacher’s phone. She also said goodbye to her parents and grandmother.

The Penang education department launched an investigation into the case. – February 1, 2018.

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Comments

  • My deepest condolences to the family of the girl. The people responsible for her death should be brought to justice

    Posted 6 years ago by Mogan Rao · Reply

    • Mr. Rao in Malaysia when a govt servant commits wrong action taken is to transfer them as govt have done in this case.. Then Deputy Minister of Education Mr. Kamalnathan will send condolences message and visit the family. There after things dies off BUT THE ACCUSED the teacher concerned WILL BE PROMOTED AND SEND TO ANOTHER STATE. TINDAKAN MUNASABAH TELAH DI AMBIL.

      Posted 6 years ago by Mohanarajan murugeson · Reply

  • The teacher was just ignorant and unqualified - the real killer is the Education Dept and the UMNO/BN politicians who made it and our system. What was a teacher who think her student could steal having and leaving her IPhone 6 around doing even in our system? She cannot take care of her things, you expect her to be able to educate and care for our children?

    Posted 6 years ago by Bigjoe Lam · Reply

  • iphone has a build in tracking app,why make a fuss of out this?

    Posted 6 years ago by Leslie Chan · Reply

  • A real tragedy - a brave little girl who gave her life to prove her innocence over a petty issue.Her act should send serious soul- searching shock waves to those involved and our society at large.
    As we mourn the death of this little girl.we send our deepest condolence and heartfelt sympathies to her parents and family.I don't think we can find words to console the grieving parents and family
    May Vasanthapiriya Rest in Peace

    Posted 6 years ago by Chris Anthony · Reply

  • Believe me this sad events will not stop. Soon there will be a replay somewhere else. The education system is down to the dogs and the educators are just plainly selfish and earning a living to survive. There is no more committment and dedication to the job. The passion for teaching in most of the educators are just a play act and lots of lips services. Why ??? because it is just a job creation in filling up and ensure certain segments are having a secure government job. Plenty of them are not even qualify in actual educator role let alone mediocrity in standard of teaching. The Parents and TeacherAssociation ( PTA ) should be roped in to perform initial assessment and review the mental and capabilities of teachers to be in the school. Right now rumours are floating that the actual culprit is of another race and a student whose parents are also teaching in the same school. With the sad events and demise of the young student , the group of teachers who are rashed and irrational in such horrific incidents have to face justice and punishment rendered. PTA should stronly empasize the requirements to deter future "Jekel and Hyde Educators." The teachers who are involved should not be just transfer and all problems sloved. PTA should be insistent and by themselves put a foot to it and demand action. Nobody in the Education Ministry are in anyway bother about it as the garnering of teachers vote in GE14 are their main priority.

    Posted 6 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • Om mani padme hum.

    Posted 6 years ago by Astann astann · Reply