Malaysian family charged over Indian employee's death

KUALA LUMPUR: A Malaysian employer and his family accused of starving and torturing an Indian migrant worker and then leaving him for dead in a remote jungle has been charged with manslaughter.

Rajan Tharuman, his wife Ganeswaria Maruthamuthu and their 20-year-old son Vijaar were charged with causing the death of Ganesh Kumar Ramamoorthy, 28, from Tamil Nadu.

The three had allegedly beaten him with wood, rattan canes and steel chains in northern Penang state, and faced up to 20 years in jail if convicted.

A lawyer for the Penang government, Janariah Abdul Mutalib, said Ganesh, who was employed by Rajan, was abused before he died.

The New Straits Times reported last week that Ganesh was discovered starving and wounded in a jungle in northern Kedah state last month.

He was allegedly beaten up, had hot water poured on his body and was chained without food for 20 days before he was bundled into a car and dumped in the jungle, where he was later found by nearby villagers.

He died three days after his plight was highlighted in local media reports.

Before his death, Ganesh reportedly said he was made to work for 16 hours a day without adequate food or rest in the past eight months that he was employed by the family.

The trio had previously been accused of abusing an Indonesian maid in 2005 by pouring hot water on her, but settled the affair after allegedly paying her off and sending her home, the New Straits Times reported.