T. Nhaveen's case reclassified as murder - IGP

Police will reclassify the case of assaulted teenager, T. Nhaveen who died today as murder, said Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar.

"We will reclassify the case as murder," he told reporters after attending the Terawih prayers with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak at the Bukit Aman mosque, Thursday.

Nhaveen, 18, who was seriously injured in an assault by a group of men at Jalan Kaki Bukit in Bukit Gelugor, George Town, last Saturday has passed away this evening.

The matter was confirmed by Timur Laut district police chief ACP Anuar Omar.

He was found unconscious after the assault, and believed to be sexually abused. Nhaveen also suffered internal bleeding in his head and abdomen.

In the incident, Nhaveen and another person, aged 18 and 19, respectively, were buying burgers when they spotted two men known to them and they started mocking at each other, before six other suspects arrived.

READ: Assault victim T. Nhaveen dies in hospital

The two victims were believed to have been hit with crash helmets, as well as punched and kicked by the group before the 19-year-old victim managed to flee and informed his uncle on the incident.

Nhaveen was seriously injured and was in critical condition at Penang Hospital, where medical examination found injuries at the anus and burn marks on his back.