In a tragic turn of events, the Sentul police have arrested a 35-year-old woman to aid in the investigation following the death of Rajeswary Appahu, popularly known as "Esha," a prominent TikTok content creator. Esha reportedly took her own life after being subjected to alleged cyberbullying on the social media platform.
According to FMT, Sentul police chief Sukarno Zahari revealed that a 39-year-old man had filed a report on Saturday, citing intimidation against the content creator. The suspect was apprehended at 1:45 AM today at the Bukit Beruntung Golf Resort in Rawang. "The suspect is being held on remand at the Sentul police headquarters until July 10 to assist in the investigation," Sukarno stated in an official release.
The arrest follows calls from activists, including David Marshel, urging the government to take action against those responsible for the harassment that led to Esha's untimely death. Marshel highlighted that Esha, 29, was targeted by multiple individuals who often used pseudonyms or fake accounts to mask their identities.
Police chief Sukarno mentioned that the suspect, who is employed as a caretaker at an elderly home, did not have any personal connection with Esha. She was only acquainted with Esha through her TikTok presence. The suspect is accused of uploading a video laced with profanities, using Esha's picture as the backdrop. Authorities are currently pursuing another suspect involved in the case.
The investigation is ongoing under several legal provisions: Section 506 of the Penal Code for criminal intimidation, which carries a penalty of up to seven years imprisonment, a fine, or both; Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, which can result in up to a year in prison, a fine up to RM50,000, or both; and Section 14 of the Minor Offences Act 1955 for insulting behavior, which imposes a fine not exceeding RM100.
Adding to the distressing narrative, Esha, who was also a Hindu rights activist, had filed a police report against two individuals just a day before her death, alleging harassment on TikTok.
The case has drawn significant public attention, shedding light on the severe impact of cyberbullying and the need for stringent measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.
Source: FMT
