YOURSAY ‘As complicated as it may be, it is the police's job to investigate.’

Cops drop teen paraquat case, say 'it's complicated'

Anonymous#007: This is a very good reason why Malaysia cannot implement hudud law. When they wanted to implement syariah law, they claimed that it would not affect non-Muslims.

Now, families are being harassed and torn apart by the Islamic authorities in the name of syariah law, and the police refuse to stand up for the victims.

The boy was so terrified of the Islamic authorities that he was going to try to commit suicide again. Are PAS/Umno and the taxpayers-sponsored Islamic authorities not interested to find out what really happened to G Thiyaggurudeen because they are unable to find the required Muslim witnesses or because they refuse to charge a Muslim in a case where the wrong is done to a perceived non-Muslim?

Suicide is a crime in Malaysia. The police cannot drop this case.

Yoong John Yen: This is an entirely shameful and irresponsible act. As complicated as it may be, it is the police's job to investigate and determine the truth of the matter.

Here’s some simple ‘Detective Work 101' on my side. Yes, there are allegations and counter-allegations on both sides.

Father's side: Teachers 'kidnapped' the child, forced him to drink holy water, forced him to make a police report against the father, the religious centre held the child against his will. Father went to rescue him. Due to the trauma, the child attempted suicide.

Teacher’s side: Father was abusing the child and he was protecting the child. None of the alleged kidnap, drinking of holy water, etc, happened.

My observation: Based on this report alone (assuming it's accurate), wouldn't the basis that the child went hysterical upon seeing the authorities who wanted to take him away be enough basis that the father is at least 80 percent right?

The child didn't try to run away from (a probable) abusive father. This alone tells me a lot about the situation. Cops, please do your job.

ConstitutionIsSupreme: I cannot comprehend how when a case is complicated, the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) can just drop the case.

Can't they search for evidence like who brought the boy to the alleged premises and their motive? Who accompanied the boy to make the police report? What did the police investigation officer (IO) find out during the questioning?

Why can’t the boy's words be relied on as evidence to look for corroborative evidence? Can't the police establish through their questioning whose words are more reliable?

I believe the police with their experience and resources such as lie detectors can verify quite accurately who is telling the truth. Why are they not doing it?

Lim Chong Leong: The police will drop a case when it is complicated. Obviously there are no Sherlock Holmes in our force.

If we avoid doing something for the simple reason that it is complicated, then we will not have reached the moon, or have computers or even the wheel or fire.

Msia Msia: The 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) case will be mind-boggling even for experienced auditors, what more for the humble auditor-general. How come the police are so keen to investigate it

Whereas in such a straightforward case, they can’t even handle it? This is a cop-out and the Negeri Sembilan chief police officer (CPO), who is highly decorated, should return his pay and uniform to save PDRM from embarrassment.

Anonymous #33227154: Shouldn't our laws protect everyone regardless of race and religion? Is our police acting based on race and religion? This needs to be investigated by a higher power.

Rupert16: The PDRM under the Twitter-happy inspector-general of police (IGP) only know how to go after soft targets. When they are really required to do their job, they play ‘ostrich’.

Bystander: It is a grave injustice for the police not to investigate to find out the truth. Thiyaggurudeen is 14 years old.

Can he as a minor choose to convert to be a Muslim without consent? Are there witnesses to the conversion? Get them all to testify in court.

If he is so adamant that the conversion was forced upon him resulting in he trying to commit suicide, shouldn't it be a police case?

Ironically, now the authorities say to wait till he is 18 to allow him to make a decision about his religion, but it was acceptable that he be taken as a Muslim at 14? Where is the rationale for this?

Maplesyrup: The National Registration Department (NRD) is working backwards. The child's parents are Hindu and why should he, a minor, be a Muslim? Will dragging the matter for another four years change anything?

Now I understand why the boy needed to take extreme measures - it’s because a bigger problem awaits him when he turns 18. He would be considered an adult and therefore can remain a Muslim without parental consent?

Silas Jugdip: I for one would not be surprised if this thing ends up with the boy being charged with trying to commit suicide.

Whiteman: Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan said this. Anwar Ibrahim said that. Complicated too, wasn't it?

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