COMMENT | An important decision at the Ipoh High Court went unnoticed as the nation was recovering from Covid-19. On July 3, the court set a precedent when it intervened in the decision of the deputy public prosecutor not to hold an inquest into the police shooting death of P Kathir Oli nine years ago. The family had wanted closure and justice but all these years, even getting an inquest seemed impossible as legal loopholes were used to obstruct the path to justice for Kathir.

Kathir’s brother had filed a criminal application through lawyer M Puravalen, asking the court to order the magistrate to hold an inquest into Kathir’s death. In his decision, Justice Anselm Charles Fernandis cited “great injustice” as grounds when he ordered that the investigation papers on the death of Kathir be forwarded to the magistrate to decide whether or not to hold an inquest...