Prominent lawyer dies after knife attack

IPOH: A prominent lawyer was killed by two masked men armed with knives in front of his house in Desa Rishah here on Tuesday.

G. Balasundram, 57, who had 17 slash wounds on his abdomen and thighs, died in Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital. It is learnt that he was tailed by two men from his office at Jalan Sultan Yussuf as he was driving home to Desa Rishah here.

The duo attacked Balasundram when he got out of the car on reaching home about 5pm.

When he screamed for help, the attackers fled. A neighbour who saw the attack, informed Balasundram's wife G. Puspalatha, 46, who was in the house, and they drove him to the hospital.

Relatives and friends were at the hospital mortuary to console Puspalatha and members of the family. Puspalatha was too distraught to speak to reporters. "I can't imagine why anyone would do this to my brother," said G. Kamala, 58, Balasundram's eldest sister.

"He was a down to earth and loving man who never turned away those who came to seek his help. "He called my mother around 3pm on Tuesday to tell us he was planning to come over to our house for a visit... that was the last we spoke to him." Balasundram's brother-in-law, teacher G. Rajan, 48, said his sister, Puspalatha and Balasundram had been married for seven years and they have a 5-year-old son. Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Senator Datuk T. Murugiah, who was at the mortuary, said he was acquainted with Balasundram. "We lost a promising individual... he could have helped many people with his expertise." Fellow lawyer, A. Sivanesan, who is Sungkai assemblyman, said there was a similar attack on Balasundram four years ago but he escaped unhurt and police managed to arrest the man. Parti Sosialis Malaysia deputy chairman M. Saraswathy said: "He was the only lawyer who never turned us away and he helped many farmers and squatters settle their eviction issues without charging them. "He also offered free legal aid for more than 20 years." Perak Criminal Investigation Department chief Datuk Mohd Dzuraidi Ibrahim said Balasundram had been stabbed with jagged sharp weapons, commonly referred to as Rambo knives. He said robbery had been ruled out as nothing was taken from the lawyer and investigations were being carried out under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder. Those with information on the attack have been requested to contact the police at 05-2451 222.

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