Mystery surrounds motive behind Malay-Indian actress' suicide

Kuala Lumpur, Sep. 11 (ANI): The mystery behind Malay-Indian actress K. Sujatha's suicide continues, with her family's counsel testifying that she took her life for reasons best known to her.

K. Kumaraendran, however, dismissed any third party involvement in her death.

The Star Online quoted Kumaraendran as saying that Sujatha's close friend S. Vell Paari, who spent lavishly on the actress, including buying her a 420,000 ringgits condominium and financing her brothers' education, should not be associated with her death.

Making his submissions, he said coroner Mohd Faizi Che Abu should not fail to reach a positive conclusion because there were doubts on some minor points.

Kumaraendran said the coroner had to consider the forensic expert's evidence affirming that Sujatha herself drank the paraquat, as there were no splash marks on her.

He said the court should also consider the evidence given by Sujatha's younger brother Surenthiran that he bought the paraquat upon her request.

"Sujatha had claimed that she wanted the para-quat for her friend. There is no interested party here," Kumaraendran stressed.

He also said that the doctor who treated her was informed by her that she had consumed paraquat unknowingly.

DPP Geethan Ram Vincent said the coroner had to evaluate the evidence, as the evidence given by Vell Paari and Dr Sakti over the reasons for drinking the paraquat was difficult to believe.

He said Surenthiran's evidence was suspicious, too.

Sujatha, 28, who had worked as Vell Paari's personal assistant and head of corporate department, died on June 25, 2007, four days after being admitted to hospital. (ANI)