Anonymous_X: The Curious Case of David Widjaja: Family of NTU student questions police about university's statement

Sunday, April 26, 2009

The Curious Case of David Widjaja: Family of NTU student questions police about university's statement | Expedited inquest into Widjaja's death

It is a good move by the family of David to question police about the statement released by the university about the case. After all, many will agree that since the investigation by the police is still on going, the university should not jump to the conclusion that the late David Widjaja was the stabber & that his final year project supervisor Chan Kap Luk was the victim.

The word 'alleged' ought to be used accordingly.

On another news, it's good to learn that the Coroner's Inquiry would be expedited. But honestly, don't you find the reason is a bit, uhm, strange? It's expedited because the pathologist Marian Wang would be going overseas to further her studies in June.

I do hope they expedite it rightly with the quality of the findings not to be compromised.

The family of Nanyang Technological University (NTU) student David Widjaja, who fell to his death last month, met with Singapore police on Thursday.

One of their main concerns is the release of a statement by the university about the events leading to Widjaja's death before police investigations were completed.

Widjaja's parents and brother, William Widjaja, met DSP Avadiar Pongenan - the head of investigations at Jurong Police division - for two hours.

They were accompanied by their lawyer, Shashi Nathan, and an Indonesian Embassy official, Yayan Mulyana.

Early last month, 21-year-old Widjaja was found dead after he fell from a campus building.

NTU released a statement that the student had allegedly stabbed his final-year project supervisor Chan Kap Luk before jumping to his death. It is an account the family has rejected.

The family said it was inappropriate for the university to have done so as police were still investigating the case.

A coroner's inquiry into the student's death has been set for next month.

From Channel NewsAsia, "Family of NTU student questions police about university's statement".

The coroner's inquiry (CI) into the death of Nanyang Technological University undergraduate David Hartanto Widjaja will be held for five days from May 20 in an "expedited" hearing - just seven weeks after he fell to his death at the university.

The 21-year-old Indonesian student died last month, shortly after he was said to have stabbed his final year-project supervisor, Associate Professor Chan Kap Luk, 45.

Yesterday, State Counsel Shahla Iqbal told State Coroner Victor Yeo that a Health Sciences Authority report related to blood specimens found at the scene was still pending.

As pathologist Marian Wang would be going overseas to further her studies in June, State Counsel Iqbal asked that the inquiry be expedited.

The inquest will involve at least 16 witnesses, including Dr Wang and Prof Chan.

Mr Widjaja's parents and brother William, 24, an IT consultant, were in court yesterday for a hearing about the inquiry.

The Widjajas' lawyer, Mr Shashi Nathan, said that they would be meeting the police.

"It's not "us" against the police. In fact, we are working with the police...to try to find the truth for the family. As long as we get to the bottom what really happened...they will have some sort of closure," he said.

Mr Shashi added: "I've also been told I'll be given liberty to cross-examine all the witnesses during the CI, so at that point we'll have a better picture of what actually happened."

Mr William Widjaja said: "We believe that David did not commit suicide. We are deeply concerned that there's another version of how David died and that what the media reported is not true."