Here's a riveting and eye-opening report by Athi Shankar of Free Malaysia Today. The world has to know the truth. Please read and share as much as you can - the sad, tragic story of C Selvam, driver of the late Karpal Singh. Thank you, Datuk Huan, for saving him and for your kindness. Thank you, Athi and FMT for featuring this important report.
GEORGE TOWN: The former driver of the late Karpal Singh, C Selvam, 27, feels hollow, abandoned and betrayed by his employer’s family after being left to languish in Taiping prison for more than a month.
Although Selvam is out on bail, thanks to the timely intervention of Parti Cinta Malaysia vice-president Huan Cheng Guan, the Indian national has been struggling to pull himself together, crying and grieving in jail pending trial.
Selvam did not know anyone in Malaysia except his employer Karpal and his family and never thought for a moment he would be abandoned and left to rot in a “foreign” jail.
During his remand, he prayed daily for Karpal’s family to bail him out but help never came.
He recalled that not a single member of Karpal’s family visited him in Taiping prison.
No representatives from the Indian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur visited Selvam, who is from Velore in Tamil Nadu, India.
Selvam claimed that his belongings, last left in Karpal’s home in Kuala Lumpur, were never returned to him.
When he was finally bailed out, Selvam was shocked to find out that he was saved by an unknown “Chinese Datuk.”
He is now grateful to Huan and the Datuk, whom he had never met before, for bailing him out.
Huan posted bail of RM5,000 last Monday and Selvam was released the next day.
“I was crying in jail every day, thinking of my family in India, my late boss and my friend Micheal Cornelius.
When I was told someone posted bail for me, I thought it was Karpal’s family.”
“I was shocked when I found out it was a Chinese Datuk. I felt betrayed, abandoned and hollow.
“When I met Huan at the courthouse in Kampar, I thanked him for taking me out of prison.
“He is like a god to me now,” said a relieved Selvam.
Huan bought new clothes for Selvam and a mobile phone for him to contact his parents and two younger siblings in India.
Selvam will be under Huan’s care pending his case in Kampar.
Huan has sought the help of Gerakan’s legal and human rights national bureau chairman Baljit Singh to provide legal aid for Selvam.
Selvam was charged with dangerous and reckless driving on July 9 under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987. He pleaded not guilty and was granted bail of RM5,000 which he could not afford.
The charge carries a maximum jail term of 10 years or RM20,000 fine or both, upon conviction.
The case management is on Sept 5.
Selvam was driving Karpal’s Toyota Alphard when it collided with a lorry on the North-South Expressway near Kampar on April 17.
The accident killed Karpal, 74, and his aide Michael, 39, on the spot.
Karpal’s Indonesian maid Selfiana Rengga, 26, who was also in the vehicle was seriously injured but has since recovered.
Selvam and Karpal’s third son Ramkarpal Singh escaped with minor injuries.
After the accident, Selvam said he was sent on the same day by a DAP politician to stay with a relative of Karpal in Ipoh pending police investigation.
“The family took good care of me,” said Selvam, adding that he only saw Karpal’s daughter Sangeet Kaur twice during his stay there.
Selvam said he was dropped off at the Kampar police station by the relative’s driver on July 9.
Police took him to the court to be charged.
“I was left all alone, stranded and devastated not knowing why I was charged,” he said.
Selvam became Karpal’s employee on Sept 27 2013 to provide for his poor family in India.
“I told my parents that I would be working for a famous political and legal family,” he said.
Selvam said he was not supposed to drive Karpal back to Penang on that fateful day. However, when Karpal asked him why he was not ready, Selvam quickly got dressed and drove the vehicle.
At first, Selvam was hired to work as an assistant to Micheal for RM1,500 monthly to provide nursing care for Karpal.
“Micheal told me it would be advantageous if I had a driving licence,” he said.
However, Selvam claimed he was used as a driver, office boy and gardener, waking up before 6am and sleeping after midnight daily.
Selvam and Micheal stayed in Karpal’s home in Kuala Lumpur most of the time and travelled with the politician everywhere, including Penang, mostly during the wee hours.
Besides being a family driver, Selvam helped Micheal to care for Karpal, carry legal documents, as well as cleaning the garden and watering the plants.
He and Micheal were not provided any meals although they were provided accommodation in Karpal’s house.
“Sometimes we will eat out or cook on our own. At times we will pack food and eat at home. But all meals are our own,” said Selvam.
After a few months, Selvam felt stressed and burdened by the heavy workload.
He told Micheal in March that he wanted to resign and return to India where he had secured a job.
“Micheal said he will speak to the boss and arrange for my departure in May. But it did not happen,” he said.
Selvam said he was not supposed to drive Karpal back to Penang on that fateful day.
He said before departing from Kuala Lumpur on that day, he had been ferrying Karpal and several family members to various destinations.
After they returned home, he said Micheal had advised him to take a good rest and instead drive Karpal’s wife Gurmit Kaur to Penang the next day.
Micheal told Selvam that he would ask Ramkarpal to take the wheels instead.
However, when Karpal asked him why he was not ready, Selvam quickly got dressed and drove the vehicle.
Now, all Selvam wants is to go back to India.
No comments:
Post a Comment