Lawyer claims gunshot wounds inconsistent with shootout, demands explanation

Gunshot wounds on three individuals killed by the police on Sept 14 were inconsistent with claims that they died in a shootout, said lawyer P Uthayakumar.

In a letter to Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador today, Uthayakumar said the burial certificates indicated that all three were shot on the chest.

One of the deceased - G Thavaselvam - was also shot in the face.

Uthayakumar, who is representing the family of the deceased V Janarthanan, and G Moganambal, who is missing, said his clients are arguing why there were no gunshot wounds on the legs if the police did not practice a "shoot to kill policy".

"Further there were bruises on Thavaselvan's head and body. His hand was broken and he had one tooth broken.

"This was communicated to us by the (Thavaselvan's) widow this morning after examining the body," said the lawyer, who is also representing Thavaselvan's widow Jasminder Kaur.

In view of this, Uthayakumar said Muhyiddin and Hamid must explain the wounds found on the deceased.

Meanwhile, Uthayakumar also said the authorities must address his clients' request for access to all official reports by the authorities.

This includes police dashboard camera recording, first information report, witness statements of the police personnel involved in the shooting and post-mortem reports.

Uthayakumar said granting the family access to these documents was crucial due to the risk of tampering.

"Your goodselves urgently reply... in this matter and also our requested urgent appointment with the IGP would be greatly appreciated," he wrote.

Thavaselvam, Janarthanan and S Maghendran were all killed during the early morning of Sept 14 in Rawang, Selangor.

The police claim there was a car chase followed by a shootout. The police claim that they only fired in retaliation.

The families of the deceased are also claiming that Moganambal was with the trio on that night and that she was now missing.

Janarthanan and Moganambal are a couple who resides in the UK but were in Malaysia for a short visit with their three children.

Moganambal and Thavaselvam are siblings.