A year after Singaporean cricket coach’s murder in Malawi, his family is still fighting for answers

The family also sought help from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). But Singapore has no diplomatic representation in Malawi, and with the nearest embassy in South Africa, assistance was limited.

According to MFA’s website, the ministry can liaise with foreign authorities where necessary and provide a list of undertakers for reference if a family member or friend dies overseas. 

However, it cannot investigate the death, give legal advice or make a police report on the family’s behalf, among other limitations.

Ms Menon also approached the Singapore police and several Members of Parliament. 

The Singapore Police Force told CNA it had contacted Malawi authorities and would render the necessary assistance within the ambit of Singapore’s laws, should a request be made. It added that it had not received any such request from Malawi as of Aug 31.

The Malawi police did not respond to CNA’s request for comment despite multiple follow-ups. MFA declined to comment.

SLOW PROGRESS

In December, around six months after her brother’s death, Ms Menon’s mother died, and Ms Menon took a break from the search.

She resumed in July, calling Malawian officers directly. One officer told her he had sent a report to the embassy months earlier. But when she eventually received it from MFA, she realised it had only been sent on Jul 31, after her call.

The report offered no new information, only that police were still investigating.

In August, she finally made some headway. A new investigating officer told her that closed-circuit television footage and call logs had been reviewed, but nothing had turned up. 

It was not much, but it was confirmation the investigation was still active, easing fears that the case was going cold.

She noted that the family had identified themselves to the Malawi police through MFA, and said that despite this, most updates had come from her own outreach rather than from the police initiating contact.

She also said navigating the Malawian system without established contacts had been difficult, and that having a clearer sense of which department or office to approach would have helped.

“I just think we need help. There’s something missing here to get us to the next stage, and I don’t think a private citizen can do it on their own.”