SHAH ALAM: The death of prisoner K. Roopan,25, while in custody at the Kajang Prison three years ago, was natural and there were no criminal elements as well as negligence by the facility and Kajang Hospital, a coroner's court ruled today.
Sessions Court judge Rasyihah Ghazali, who sat a coroner, said Roopan, who was imprisoned due to a murder conviction, died of pulmonary thromboembolism due to a blood clot on the lower left side of his body.
"The blood clot in the blood stream had burst and spread to the deceased's pulmonary arteries, causing it to clog and had caused his death.
"However, there is no conclusive evidence on how the blood clot had formed.
"There is evidence from a witness that the blood clot formed in his blood stream was not due to criminal force and it was confirmed that he had never been assaulted or been in a fight.
"Based on the post mortem and physical checks, there were no signs or trauma or physical injuries," she said in her verdict.
She said Roopan, being categorised as obesity, had the risk of developing blood clot in the blood stream, due to lack of movement while in prison.
Roopan was 88kg and stood at 171cm with a BMI of 30.1.
His parents, K.K.R Karnagaran and K. Pathmayathy, who were in the public gallery, looked solemn as they heard the verdict.
He was sentenced to jail in 2017 for murder and the post-mortem examination report stated he died due to a blood clot-related condition.
The court heard that Roopan had on June 17,2021 complained of breathing difficulties and was brought to the prison's clinic to get initial treatment before being referred to the Kajang Hospital where he was treated for a lung infection.
Rasyihah said treating doctors had administered antibiotics on Roopan, who responded well and his condition improved as he could breathe normally and had no swelling, before he was discharged on June 20.
Back at the prison, Roopan was put under on a 14-day quarantine at another block before he would be sent back to his cell but the next day (June 21) at about 10.45am, he collapsed in the toilet and was half conscious as he was rushed to the prison clinic on a stretcher.
"As soon as they reached the clinic, he was already unconscious. He did not respond to calls, his legs and hands were cold and no reaction from his eyes.
"At the hospital, he had no vital signs and he was declared dead at 12pm.
"Evidence in court showed the prison staff did their job to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation on Roopan for 30 minutes.
"Based on evidence by inquest witnesses, I am satisified that there was no negliegence whether while in prison or in hospital while he was treated.
"There was also no negligence by the hospital that contributed to his death and they had followed the ministry's guidelines," she said.
She held that the prison clinic lacked facilities and staff to administer emergency treatment but said it was not the cause of Roopan's death, while his two-person cell had housed four inmates which became unconducive and poorly ventilated.
After proceedings, Roopan's uncle, R. Sevakumar said they were saddened and disappointed with the verdict, which did not bring closure to them.
"We will discuss with our family on our next course of action," he said.
The family's lawyer, Shashi Devan said they had in June filed a civil suit, including a discovery application to seek hospital documents, at the High Court here.
In May last year, Rasyihah closed the inquest after hearing the testimonies of 25 witnesses during seven days of proceedings.