Teresa Kok

Dear friends,

I forgot to let you know the outcome of a case which was handled by me last month, i.e. the doctor who was abducted by her father who strongly opposed her marriage to a car sales executive. I was too busy at that time so I have no time to do it.

Credit should be given to YB Dato’ Seri Nazri who lent a helping hand to them by writing to the OCPD of all the police stations where the couple have lodged their police reports prior to and after the ‘abduction’.

Nazri has also written to the Deputy Minister of Internal Security to seek his intervention. He wrote all these letters in his capacity as Chairman of Human Rights Caucus in the Malaysian Parliament. He then thanked the police in writing after the couple were reunited after police intervened.

I am very happy to see the courageous couple reunited.

I received mixed support from the Indian community. Some expressed reservation or were unhappy with me for helping the couples. They supported the bride’s parent’s actions. Others gave me and the couple their full support as they believe arranged marriages which are still practised among some in the Indian community in Malaysia are outdated and should be abolished.

What do you think?

The happy faces in the press conference in Parliament after the couple were reunited in the second week of September. Standing behind are Rakesh’s father Mr Maniam (left) and lawyer Sankara Nair. Seated from left to right: Dr Sargunadevi, Rakesh, Nazri and Yours Truly.

“Abducted” Doctor Back In Husband’s Arm

1st September 2006 New Straits Times
By Tan Choe Choe

MALACCA: A month after sales executive Rakesh Maniam lodged a
report claiming that his wife, Dr S. Sargunadevi was abducted by
parties aligned with her relatives, the couple have been reunited.

The reconciliation took place on Sunday in Ipoh in the presence of
relatives and police. During the one-month separation, numerous
police reports were lodged by the families of the couple against each other. On Wednesday, the couple put their separation down to a
“misunderstanding”.

Dr Sargunadevi, 27, declined to say much about her “abduction” and
what had transpired in the month she was away from her husband.

The only thing she confirmed was that she was admitted to the
BukitMertajam Hospital for a week due to “some health problems”.
“But I’m all better now,” said Dr Sargunadevi, when met at Rakesh’sfamily home here. ”

I missed my husband a lot when we were separated. I could not eat
and sleep and I think I lost about 6kg. “I’m just glad we are back
together.” Her husband, Rakesh, 26, said: “I am just relieved that
she is now backwith me.” He said they would hold a Press
conference with their lawyer next week.He did not elaborate.

The couple got married in July.

Rakesh lodged a report last month claiming that his wife had been
abducted by relatives who disapproved of their marriage because of
the income disparity between them.

The story took a twist when police disclosed that Dr Sargunadevi had
lodged a report later saying she had left her husband willingly to go
with her family to seek traditional treatment for an ailment.

Rakesh had sought the help of Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, who urged
police to speed up their investigations.

Kok had also referred the case to the Parliamentary Caucus on
Human Rights and Good Governance for further action. Meanwhile,
asked if police would drop the case now that Dr Sargunadevi had
been reunited with her husband, deputy CID chief Supt Ariffin Sutan
said they would wait for instructions from the Deputy Public Prosecutor’s office. He declined to comment further.

(END)