Big crowd at rape victim's funeral
2010/10/18
By S. Ista Kyra
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TELUK INTAN: "I can look after a large estate but I couldn't look after my own daughter."
These were the words of K. Murali, the father of 16-year-old Divya Barathi, who was found raped and murdered here on Saturday, at her funeral near the Rubana oil palm plantation, 8km from here.
"She was an obedient girl who always helped with the household chores and she was very close to her mother," he said of his eldest daughter, the second of six children.
Murali has been a security guard at the estate for more than 20 years.
His daughter went missing on Friday and her body was found at 7.30am, lying naked in a drain.
The girl's mother, P. Letchumany, 35, and her five siblings were seen crying near the coffin yesterday but were too distraught to speak to reporters. A large crowd of friends and family attended the funeral.
Hilir Perak police chief Assistant Commissioner Goh Kok Liang said the post-mortem report by Teluk Intan Hospital revealed the cause of death as suffocation from lying face down in the mud.
"We believe the victim was raped in the drain and her face was submerged in the mud, leading to her death."
He added that the girl's former boyfriend, who was brought in to assist investigations, had been released.
"We have not ruled out the possibility that more than one person was involved in this case."
He urged anyone with information to contact senior investigating officer Assistant Superintendent Shamsudin Mamat at 019-4231500 or the nearest police station.
MIC Ladang Rubana branch chairman K. Damondran said the murder of Divya Barathi was the first such case there in 40 years.
"I hope those responsible for this cruel act will be found soon and punished for their crime," he said after visiting Divya's family at their house yesterday.
Kampung Gajah assemblyman Dr Wan Norashikin Wan Noordin also sent her condolences and a donation to the family through a representative.
Read more: Big crowd at rape victim's funeral http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/8sosa/Article#ixzz12iBovIyp
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