SHAH ALAM, MALAYSIA: Ophthalmologist Dr Rajamalika Kandiah was taking a health supplement called Sunchorella for several years before she died in 1998, an inquest was told.
At the inquest yesterday to determine the cause of her death, her husband Sivaraj Raja Ratnam said he had been supplying the health supplement not only to his wife, but to his father-in-law and brother-in-law.
"I was also taking it. My wife and her son Bala (Bala Saravanan Bala Rajentharen was Rajamalika's son from her first marriage) were also taking it," he told deputy public prosecutor Hana Hadinah Sheikh Mohd Ghazali, who is assisting in the inquest.
"Sunchorella is a green capsule which contains a 'single cell from fresh water'. It is a Japanese product and was approved by the Health Ministry."
He said the supplement was to boost the immune system and allegedly helped prevent diseases.
"Bala was taking it as he was suffering from asthma. After Rajamalika had taken it, she felt more energetic," he told coroner Suriyanilakma Abd Kadir.
"My wife also had bowel problems. That was why she took the supplement."
Sivaraj said Sunchorella could not be obtained from pharmacies. It was sold by a direct selling company in Kelana Jaya which closed down two years ago.
Dr Rajamalika died on Aug 29, 1998. Her brother, K. Mohanadas, lodged a police report alleging foul play as the autopsy revealed the presence of arsenic and mercury in her blood.
Initial police investigations were closed as her death was attributed to dengue haemorrhagic fever, but the case was reopened after several police reports were lodged.
Mohanadas had said in earlier proceedings that until his sister's death, his family did not know she had married Sivaraj, a retired deputy superintendent of police.
Yesterday, Sivaraj said he had sent his wife to the Selangor Medical Centre just after midnight on Aug 13, 1998 as she had high fever.
"She was admitted to the emergency department and subsequently to the intensive care unit.
"A doctor told me that from the symptoms, she was likely to be suffering from dengue."
When the DPP asked if he knew the side effects of the supplement, Sivaraj said he only knew the benefits and side effects from a pamphlet which came with the capsules.
"But Rajamalika had told me that if we were to fall ill, we should stop taking it," he said. "These were her instructions. What do I know; she's the doctor."
He said the doctor who attended to his wife had told him his wife was stable on Aug 14, the next day after she was admitted.
"She looked fine, she could talk and even cracked jokes. But she was on drips. It was only later the doctor confirmed my wife had dengue."
(Dr Vineetha Das had in earlier proceedings said Rajamalika's condition had deteriorated on Aug 14).
