SHANTI Dorairaj, mother of T. Nhaveen, who was beaten to death by a group of youths in 2017, will stage a sit-in protest at the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) in Putrajaya today over the authorities’ failure to provide her with answers.

She wants the AGC to tell her the status of the prosecution’s appeal against the acquittal of the five young men in October.

She is set to start her protest at 11am today and will stay put until she gets a proper update, even if it means she has to be there way past the weekend and the coming Hari Raya holidays, said social activist Arun Dorasamy.

Arun, who heads the Nhaveen Action and Investigation League, said Shanti will “sit and wait” at the AGC building until she receives a progress report.

“She has decided to hold a soft sit-in protest at the AGC by waiting for an update on her late son’s appeal case.

“Although the following day is a weekend, she will wait until she gets an update, from the appellate and trial division specifically or better still, the AG himself.

“This has been going on for months and until today, the AGC has not given a single update to the mother, who has already suffered so much and lost her son,” Arun told The Malaysian Insight, adding people concerned about the case will also be joining Shanti in the protest.

He said the mother wants to know if the notice of appeal has been served to the five accused and if the AGC will apply to the court for an arrest warrant for them.

Arun said the arrest warrant application was allowed under Rule 58(3) of the Rules of the Court of Appeal 1994.

The rule states that as soon as a notice of appeal is filed by the public prosecutor, the Court of Appeal may, on an application by the public prosecutor, issue a warrant directing that the accused be arrested and brought before it.

The Court of Appeal may also order the accused to be held in prison pending the disposal of the appeal.

Arun said he and Nhaveen’s family were snubbed by the AGC when they visited its office on March 26 in search of an update on the case.

Despite waiting for more than six hours, Arun said no one from the office met Shanti.

Instead, Arun said they were merely greeted by a public relations officer.

“Shanti could not control her emotions and burst out crying in the AGC’s lobby.

“What else can a mother do? She has suffered enough and now the AGC is adding more pain for her.

“To date, the watching brief has sent seven letters to AGC and there has been no reply.

“Even Shanti’s request for a meeting with the head of the appellate and trial division has been ignored.

“Why are they being ignored? Has something gone wrong?” Arun asked.

On October 3, the Penang High Court acquitted five people accused of killing Nhaveen, who was 18.

In his verdict, judge Radzi Hamid said that “there were major flaws in the prosecution’s case against the accused, and hence a failure in proving a prima facie case”.

The AGC filed a notice of appeal but has not provided any news on the case since.

Arun had on numerous occasions expressed his frustration over the AGC’s delay in providing answers to Nhaveen’s family

Shanti had previously threatened to to hold a hunger strike over the foot-dragging.

Arun said the five accused of Nhaveen’s murder could have left the country, which could be why the case was on the verge of being dropped.

“I think the AGC is unable to serve notice to the five accused because they have fled the country.

“And that’s the reason there are no updates, because I think the case is on the verge of being cancelled.

On June 19, 2017, five youths were charged with killing Nhaveen under section 302 of the penal code, read together with section 34..

They were also charged under section 326 of the penal code for causing grievous bodily harm to the victim.

It was reported that Nhaveen was beaten up by five people while buying burgers at night in Jalan Kaki Bukit, Bukit Gelugor.

Nhaveen’s friend, who was with him, escaped.

Nhaveen was later found on a field, unconscious and bearing severe injuries, including burns on his back and signs that a blunt object had been shoved into his anus. He later died from his wounds. – April 5, 2024.