More to Kugan's death

A SECOND autopsy report has revealed that “blunt trauma to the muscles” was the primary cause of the controversial death of 22-year-old A. Kugan, and not fluid in the lungs, as stated in the first autopsy.

Kugan, who was then under investigation for car theft, died while in police custody on Jan 20.

Sources told Malay Mail last night that the findings of the second autopsy would be announced at a Press conference called by Kugan’s family’s lawyers at 3pm today. The autopsy was conducted at the University Malaya Medical Centre by an independent forensic pathologist.

A source said that while fluid in the lungs was also mentioned in the second report, it was allegedly not the cause of death. “There were signs of haemorrhaging all over the body,” the source added.

While declining to disclose details, one of the lawyers, N. Surendran, confirmed yesterday that the Press conference would reveal details of the second autopsy.

“Let’s just say that we have spoken to the family and they were shocked by what was revealed in the second post-mortem report,” he said.

On Jan 15, Kugan was taken in for questioning by Subang Jaya police in connection with a series of car thefts.

He died while in police custody on Jan 20.

Extensive injuries were found on the body, with whip-like marks on his back. The first autopsy attributed his death to fluid in the lungs.

Kugan’s family and lawyers demanded for a second autopsy to be carried out, but the police announced they were satisfied with the findings.

The family then insisted on the second autopsy on Kugan’s body that was kept at the UMMC mortuary following intense public pressure. The second autopsy was paid for by Kugan’s family.