Goalpost accident: Victim’s family struggling to cope; taking legal advice
Body of Muhammad Hambali Sumatra at Eunos road 5 on 25 April 2017, seen before taken to Pusara Aman Mosque for the last rites before his body is buried. 13-year-old Muhammad Hambali Sumatra died after a goal post hit his head during a physical education lesson in Geylang Methodist Secondary School on Monday (April 24). Photo: Koh Mui Fong/TODAY
SINGAPORE — Five months after a crossbar fell on 12-year-old Muhammad Hambali Sumathi and killed him during a football game, his family members are still struggling to cope with the accident and unable to find closure.
They are also seeking legal advice and thinking of taking possible civil action against his school.
Speaking to reporters after the findings from the Coroner’s Inquiry into his death were delivered yesterday, his half-sister Sarah Aqilah, 33, a performing artiste, said that the family continues to have questions for the school, such as why the goalpost was left near the school field if it was not in use.
About six family members turned up for the inquiry at the State Courts yesterday. State Coroner Marvin Bay had ruled Hambali’s death as “a most tragic misadventure” and that there was no basis to suspect foul play.
In the two to three months after the incident on April 24, Hambali’s schoolmates from Geylang Methodist School (Secondary) continued to send phone text messages to his mobile phone, Ms Sarah said.
They also posted messages on Instagram in remembrance of him.
“I was the one texting them back, they know it was me. And they kept sending him goodnight messages after so long… I stopped (replying) because I couldn’t take it.”
Her 54-year-old father is still in mourning, visiting Hambali’s grave about twice a week.
Ms Sarah said that she had met the school principal, a day after Hambali’s funeral, when the principal handed the family about S$9,000 that were donated by students and their parents.
She added: “We felt that (the school was) quite reluctant to answer most of our questions.” SIAU MING EN
