Following the fight that took place on 20 August outside the Concorde Shopping Mall that resulted in the death of one person, the suspect charged with murder was brought back to the crime scene on 27 August for follow-up investigations by the police.
29-year-old Asvain Pachan Pillai Sukumaran, the murder suspect, is accused of murdering the victim Mohammad Isrrat Mohd Ismail on 20 August at about 6am.
Isrrat had suffered multiple injuries during the fight and was conveyed to the hospital unconscious, where he eventually succumbed to his injuries and died.
Murder suspect brought to crime scene
The murder suspect, Asvain, was brought back to the crime scene outside Concorde Hotel and Shopping Mall, and he was seen wearing a face mask while handcuffed and escorted by police officers to go through the premises of the mall.
Asvain was also one of the 11 suspects brought back to the scene of the crime, although he is the only one charged with murder while the others were charged with rioting armed with a deadly weapon.
At the crime scene, they were made to go through different areas of the mall one by one, including the back entrance of the mall facing Kramat Lane, the first floor of the mall, and the front entrance of the mall facing Orchard.
Recap
Victim and Accused
The victim, Mr. Mohammad Isrrat Mohd Ismail, lost his life after a fight that unfolded on Sunday morning at Concorde Hotel & Shopping Mall at 100 Orchard Road. The accused, identified as Asvain Pachan Pillai Sukumaran, now faces a murder charge in relation to the incident.
The incident transpired at approximately 6 am, when an argument between Mr. Ismail and Asvain escalated into a physical confrontation.
During the confrontation, Mr. Ismail sustained severe injuries and was rendered unconscious. He was immediately rushed to the hospital, where he tragically succumbed to his injuries and passed away.
Another individual, a 23-year-old man, also suffered multiple injuries as a result of the altercation and was admitted to the hospital in a conscious state.
Asvain Pachan Pillai Sukumaran, the accused, is currently in remand and appeared in court via video-link. He is represented by lawyer Mr. Riyach Hussain.
District Judge Terence Tay granted permission for Asvain to be temporarily taken out of remand at the Central Police Division to revisit the scene of the incident and potentially recover any exhibits that could be relevant to the case.
Additional Charges and Individuals Involved
Ten other individuals have been charged in connection to the case, with seven of them facing charges earlier today. Among them is 30-year-old Muhammad Shahrulnizam Osman, who is accused of voluntarily causing hurt with a dangerous weapon.
Shahrulnizam allegedly slashed 27-year-old Visnu Suriamurthi in the chest with a bread knife that had a 30cm blade. The latter was also charged in court with one count of rioting with a deadly weapon.
The accused individuals, including Asvain, are believed to have been part of an unlawful assembly. This assembly allegedly involved one or more members who committed the offense and caused harm to Mr. Ismail.
The next hearing date for the eight men charged on Tuesday has been set for August 29. Balakrishna Subramaniam, Mervyn Veryl Daud, and Sijesh Asogan were charged on Monday with rioting armed with a deadly weapon. Additionally, investigations against two men and one woman, aged between 22 and 26, are ongoing.
If convicted of murder, Asvain Pachan Pillai Sukumaran could potentially face the death penalty. Shahrulnizam, on the other hand, may be subject to imprisonment for up to seven years, fines, caning, or a combination of these penalties if found guilty of voluntarily causing hurt with a dangerous weapon.
Rioting with a deadly weapon carries a potential sentence of up to 10 years’ imprisonment and caning.
List of suspects
- 30-year-old Muhammad Shahrulnizam Osman, charged with voluntarily causing hurt with a dangerous weapon, allegedly used a bread knife to slash 27-year-old Visnu Suriamurthi in the chest.
- 27-year-old Visnu Suriamurthi (abovementioned), charged with rioting armed with a deadly weapon.
- 24-year-old Kavind Raj Kannan – charged with rioting armed with a deadly weapon.
- 24-year-old Sharvin Jay Nair – charged with rioting armed with a deadly weapon.
- 28-year-old Sridharan Elangovan – charged with rioting armed with a deadly weapon.
- 31-year-old Manojkumar Velayanatham – charged with rioting armed with a deadly weapon.
- 32-year-old Arun Kaliaperumal – charged with rioting armed with a deadly weapon.