Andika
KOTA KINABALU: The family of the polytechnic student who was found hanged from a fourth floor apartment balcony at Taman Sri Maju in Menggatal on March 26, wants the police to carry out a thorough investigation into the incident.
Aisyah Ahmad, 60, the mother of the student Andika Alam Usman Duri, said she does not believe her 23-year-old son could have taken his own life as he was a religious person.
“Initially we were shocked to hear the news but after police had confirmed that he had committed suicide, we just accepted it.
“However, after my son’s body was brought home to Lahad Datu, relatives who were bathing the body found bruises all over it,” Aisyah said.
“We find it very suspicious as there were bruises and swellings on his abdomen, legs, thighs and even his private parts.
“There were also rope marks on his chest indicating that he was probably tied up, held down and attacked before he died,” said the mother, who was accompanied by her husband and other family members when speaking to the media yesterday.
Also present was Pekida Sabah chairman Datu Mohd Akjan Datu Ali Muhammad.
Aisyah said her family then decided to send Andika’s body to the Lahad Datu Hospital for another post-mortem.
The family also informed the Lahad Datu police about the new autopsy to determine the cause of the bruises or apparent injury marks on the body, she said.
“After the autopsy last Friday, I was told by the hospital in Lahad Datu that the report would only be ready within one or two weeks.
“I will wait and be patient for the result of the autopsy because I believe that my son, Andika, did not commit suicide,” she said.
Aisyah, who traveled from Lahad Datu to the state capital, said she had also lodged a police report at the Menggatal police station on Monday, requesting the police to carry out a thorough investigation into the case.
She said her police report also stated what actually happened between her son and some of his friends, believed to be housemates, prior to his death.
“About a week before my son’s death, he had contacted me from Kota Kinabalu that some of his housemates had threatened him due to a misunderstanding.
“I advised him not to be involved in any fight but unfortunately that was the last advice I could give him,” she said in tears.
The body of Andika, clad in a T-shirt, sarong and songkok, was said to be found by housemates around 9am.
He was said to have just performed his morning prayer before his death.