PUTRAJAYA: A total of 170 people gathered in front of the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) building here demanding updates on the appeal status regarding the gruesome murder of T. Nhaveen six years ago.
Activist Arun Dorasamy, who led the group, said they decided to gather at the building's lobby after the AGC failed to respond to their inquiries regarding the acquittal of five accused over the murder of Nhaveen by the Penang high Court in October last year.
"We sent seven letters to the AGC requesting updates on the appeal, but they went unanswered.
"We went there today to demand an update and thank God, a senior federal counsel agreed to sit with us.
"Four of us, including Nhaveen mother D. Shanti were ushered into a private room.
"The senior federal counsel told us that the A-GC will decide whether to proceed with an appeal against the High Court's ruling after they receive the appeal record from the High Court," he said.
This, he said, will be made within 10 to 12 days of receipt of the record.
Arun said the A-GC had assured them that they would do their best to proceed with the case at the appellate court soon.
He said they were glad about the update and adamant to continue their plight to seek justice for Nhaveen.
On Oct 3, last year, the five accused were acquitted and discharged by the High Court after it ruled that the prosecution had failed to prove a prima facie case against all the accused.
The five were brothers S. Gopinaath, 32, and S. Gokulan, 24, as well as J. Ragesuthan, 24, and two other unnamed persons who were juveniles when the offence took place.
They were charged with committing the offence at Pusat Pembelajaran Karpal Singh in Jalan Kaki Bukit here between 11pm and 12am on June 9, 2017.
At the time of the offence, Nhaveen was 18 years old.
They were also charged with committing a grievous assault on Nhaveen's friend, T. Previin, near the Karpal Singh Learning Centre in Bukit Gelugor that night.
Previin was 19 years old then.
Gopinaath was initially not considered a suspect. He was charged midway through the trial in December 2021.
The Nhaveen murder case garnered attention on social media back then, with Malaysians expressing an outpouring of sympathy towards him and his family.