We Just Want the Truth

Today ran this story on 24 April 2009:

We just want the truth
By Esther Ng

THEY may not have got the answer they had sought: What exactly happened on that fateful day?

But the family of David Widjaja, the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) student who fell to his death on campus last month after allegedly stabbing his lecturer, got their chance to raise their concerns with the police yesterday.

“We asked the police why were we not allowed to see David’s body fully. Why was the autopsy report send to NTU instead of us,” said Mr William Widjaja, 24, elder brother of the deceased, after the family’s 90-minute meeting yesterday with Deputy Superintendent Avadiar Pongenan, head of investigation at Jurong Police Divisional Headquarters.

“Why did the university release a statement about David stabbing the professor when the police have not even finished their investigation?” he added.

Lawyer Shashi Nathan, who had arranged the meeting, said the session, which was also attended by Indonesian Embassy official Yayan Mulyana, went well.

“It helped allay fears and concern the family had of a cover-up and conspiracy” said Mr Nathan. “The family told the police that they wanted the facts, the simple truth from all the rumours and speculation.”

Mr William told Today the police assured them of a “full and thorough investigation”.

As for the Widjajas’ unhappiness over the autopsy report being sent to NTU and the university’s statement, Mr Nathan told Today that he told the family to “take it up with NTU at a separate forum”.

“I told them ‘let’s deal with the coroner’s inquiry first’,” he added.

The incident has taken a toll on the family. David’s mother Tjhay Lie Khoon has lost 5kg and has trouble sleeping, said Mr Hartono Widjaja, father of the dead student.

The 56-year-old, who works for a trading firm in Indonesia, said he copes by working harder. “We just want to know the truth,” he added.

The family leaves for Indonesia tomorrow and will return shortly before the coroner’s inquest on May 20.