Can self-strangulation be fatal? Expert weighs in
However, the doctor noted that it remained uncertain whether the officer’s death was due to self-strangulation or another form of strangulation.
SHAH ALAM - The recent death of a Customs Tribunal officer, classified as a sudden death by police, has raised questions about whether self-strangulation could have been the cause.
While strangulation can occur in various forms from hanging to external choking, forensic experts noted that asphyxiation, the cessation of oxygen to the body, was the likely mechanism.
Explaining the complexities surrounding cases involving strangulation, a general practitioner who requested anonymity said strangulation could mean many things.
"If you hang yourself, it's strangulation. If someone chokes you, it's also strangulation.
"Based on the report, there was some indication of wire or similar strangulation, which would have caused asphyxiation.
"Asphyxiation essentially means a lack of oxygen entering the body because of the strangulation," he told Sinar Daily.
However, the doctor noted that it remained uncertain whether the officer’s death was due to self-strangulation or another form of strangulation.
"For me to say whether he did it by himself or not, I can't really comment because I didn't see the evidence. But, yes, strangulation could be the cause (of death)," he said.
The doctor also highlighted other potential causes of asphyxiation, such as choking on food or gagging.
The case has sparked concern over the police's decision to classify the death as a sudden death report.
"If it's labeled as a sudden death, they might not be concluding the case yet.
"The forensic report says the officer died due to strangulation, but the exact circumstances, what happened and how are still unclear," the doctor added.
It was reported that on Wednesday, a 45-year-old Customs Tribunal officer was found dead at the Treasury Office in Putrajaya, with his neck and legs bound by cable ties.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa said the victim was discovered lying on the office floor and that a check at the scene did not reveal the presence of any criminal elements.
A post-mortem carried out yesterday, revealed that the cause of the victim's death was from compression of the neck due to ligature strangulation.
Rusdi said based on the post-mortem report, the case is still classified as a sudden death report.
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