Man Charged With Matricide Found Dead In Prison Cell

2009/11/16

A man who was charged last week, with the murder of his mother was found dead at the Air Molek Prison last night, under what his family alleges to be "suspicious circumstances".

J. Saravanan, 22, was found hanged from a grill, via a pillow case and towel knotted together, about 9pm. A warder who began his shift at 9pm, found the murder accused hanged in the cell and alerted the prison authorities.

The body was sent to the Sultanah Aminah Hospital for post-mortem. Outside the hospital mortuary, the deceased’s uncle, K. Chandran, told pressmen that the hospital authorities told his family that his nephew was already dead upon arrival at the hospital.He claimed that the family was informed about the incident, only about two hours after Saravanan’s death.

Chandran, 42, said he intended to lodge a police report over Saravanan’s death as there were bruises on the body, raising suspicion over the events leading to his nephew’s demise. He said he was suspicious over Saravanan’s death.

Johor acting police chief Datuk Jalaluddin Abdul Rahman classified the case as sudden death. On Nov 11, Saravanan was charged with the murder of his mother, Malliha Kathirvel, 47, at their house in Kampung MIC, Ulu Tiram between 9.30am and 10.30am on Oct 5.

He faces the charge under Section 302 of the Penal Code which carries the mandatory death penalty. The case was transferred to High Court for further mention. Malliha’s body which was stuffed in a travel bag was found hidden under the kitchen sink of the house on Oct 6. -- BERNAMA