TAMPIN: A man in his late sixties who died after consuming paraquat last Thursday was allegedly overwhelmed by financial difficulties.
Police said the senior citizen was pronounced dead at 2.41pm yesterday after receiving treatment at the Hospital Tuanku Ampuan Najihah in Kuala Pilah.
Tampin district police chief Superintendent Anuwal Ab Wahab said it was found that the man had consumed 50 millilitres of the herbicide paraquat in Gemas, near here.
"Based on the police investigations, it was found that the victim drank the poison because he was suffering from emotional stress since he owed an 'ah-long' (loan shark) RM3,000," he told Harian Metro yesterday.
According to Anuwal, the victim showed signs of improvement when he was first admitted to the hospital and was said to be in a stable condition.
"At the time, the police didn't open an investigation paper according to Section 309 of the Penal Code because the victim was facing psychological burdens and stress."
However, he was pronounced dead yesterday afternoon due to organ failure as a result of poison ingestion which damaged his nerves.
Based on statements given to the police, Anuwal said the victim was never threatened by the loan shark but committed suicide simply due to the stress and debt burden.
Anuwal said the victim had previously been advised by his child not to borrow money from loan sharks but the caution was ignored.