During his transfer from the Piton detention center: Darren Rungasamy succumbs to septicemia after being lynched

Darren Rungasamy, a 30-year-old man, was indeed a victim of an assault, as confirmed by the autopsy conducted on Tuesday following his death. Police were preparing to transfer him from his cell at the Piton detention center to a police vehicle to take him to the Pamplemousses court for his appearance when he suddenly collapsed. A resident of Plaine-des-Papayes, he had been arrested on December 17 after a theft in the Terre-Rouge area and had been violently attacked by members of the public before being handed over to the police. Severely injured, he was admitted to SSRN Hospital in Pamplemousses under police guard.

His father stated, "...he was influenced by bad company..."

He spent a week in the hospital and was only discharged on Monday, December 22. However, reports indicate that even after leaving the hospital, he still felt unwell. CID detectives reportedly offered to take him back to the hospital for treatment on Monday evening, but he insisted he would just take his medication.

On Tuesday, around noon, as he was to be taken to court, he claimed he was not feeling well. He complained about his condition to the officers. The police were escorting him from his cell to their vehicle to take him to Pamplemousses District Court when his health suddenly deteriorated. He collapsed and showed no signs of reaction. An ambulance was immediately called, but the attending physician confirmed that there was nothing more to be done. He had already taken his last breath.

The autopsy, conducted Tuesday evening at Dr. A. G. Jeetoo Hospital by Dr. Sudesh Kumar Gungadin, head of the forensic department, attributed Darren Rungasamy's death to septicemia resulting from multiple injuries, confirming that he had been assaulted. Surveillance footage from the Piton detention center has already been secured for the investigation, which has been handed over to the Major Crime Investigation Team.

In Plaine-des-Papayes, Logen, Darren's father, is devastated. He says he does not understand what could have happened. "I was returning from a trip last week when I learned that my son had been lynched after a theft. He was young and resourceful. He had even started a small catering business, but he was influenced by bad company," the father laments. He could not visit him in the hospital. "I learned he had a broken arm," he adds. "He was discharged from the hospital, which meant he was getting better. How could he suddenly not feel well? I don’t understand what happened," he questions, wishing for clarity regarding his son's death. His funeral is scheduled for Wednesday morning.