TAMPIN: The gloomy atmosphere surrounding a cremation ceremony here today suddenly turned chaotic when the family was informed that they were about to cremate the wrong person.
The family from Taman Desa Permai was about to begin the cremation when they received a phone call from the Prisons Department, who told them that their son, whom they thought was dead and was about to be cremated, was still alive.
They were informed that their son, who was in the Sungai Buloh Prison, was actually still in the department's custody.
The body which was about to be cremated, they learnt, was actually his prison cell mate.
The family patriarch, who only wished to be known as Chantren, 45, said their son, who was living in Selayang, was arrested on Feb 28 and was being remanded at the Sungai Buloh Prison.
He did not specify the reason for his son's arrest.
He said the family was told on March 3 that their son had fallen unconscious while in prison and died in custody the day before.
The family was also told that they could claim the body at the Sungai Buloh Hospital.
"We went to hospital on March 3. However, we weren't allowed to see the body. We were also told that the post-mortem examination had been completed.
"We were told to come back the next day, which we did. After signing the necessary documents, we were then allowed to view the body," he said.
However, Chantren said upon viewing the body, they were puzzled as it did not resemble their son.
"There were surgical marks and stitches on his head. His head was also shaven clean," he said.
However, they attributed it to post-mortem changes and decided to claim the body anyway. They took the remains home on Saturday night and made preparations to have the body cremated at 10am the next day.
"The whole family was grieving and making preparations.
"Today, as we were about to cremate the body at the crematorium, we received a phone call from the Prisons Department.
"They told us that we had the wrong body. The body was instead of his cell mate, who had died of lung failure.
"They said our son was still alive, and immediately asked us to do a video call," he said.
Chantren said the family was stunned by the news.
"Our son was arrested by police, we were told he had died, only to still be alive.
"This is all very confusing," he said.
Chantren said the family had forked out around RM20,000 to rent a tent, cater food as well as the cremation costs.
"How did such a mix up happen?" he asked.
The boy's mother, who only wished to be known as Parameiswary, 48, said she has lodged a report at the Jinjang police station on the issue.
She wants the authorities to come forward and explain the matter.
"We don't want just a verbal statement, we want this in writing. We also want to see our son to confirm that he is still alive.
"This is not a small matter, it's literally a matter of life and death."
It is understood that the Prisons Department has already claimed the body from the Tampin crematorium and informed the next-of-kin of the death.