Singapore police have labelled a recent Financial Times report on American engineer Dr Shane Todd as "inaccurate", "mischievous" and "calculated to interfere with the administration of justice in Singapore".
The article, dated May 10 and titled "Singapore inquiry prepares to open into Shane Todd's death", reported that the police gave Dr Todd's parents different versions of how he died.
Police said the paper made no attempts to confirm this with them and that the article "grossly misrepresented" its position because alleged statements exchanged between Dr Todd's parents and the police about the death were presented as facts.
Police said this is "highly inappropriate" and whether such statements were actually made is to be determined by the State Coroner.
More than 60 witnesses have been lined up for the Coroner's Inquiry into the death of Dr Shane Todd. However, only half that number are likely to take the stand, with the rest providing recorded statements.
His friends will be among the first on the stand when the inquiry begins on Monday. Other witnesses include the pathologist, police officers, and his parents.
Tai Wei Shyong, the senior state counsel for Dr Todd's inquiry, said: "First of all, most important is the cause of death -- the report of the forensic pathologist, what medically caused the death.
"Secondly, it is necessary to try to piece together the life of the deceased person before he died -- what was he going through, were there any events affecting him. Thirdly, were there any indications of wrong-doing or foul play. These are generic areas every coroner's case has to deal with and that's also going to be the case in this particular instance."
The 31-year-old American was found hanged in his apartment in Chinatown. His parents believe he was murdered over research he had done while working for Singapore's Institute of Microelectronics.
During the inquiry, which is public and open, they will have the chance to raise concerns relating to the case.
Mr Tai added: "The role of the state counsel is essentially to place all of the relevant evidence before the coroner so that he can make the best possible finding as to the cause of death. Our job is to make sure everything he needs to make a decision is placed before him in an orderly and structured manner.
"Because it's an inquisitorial process and not an adversarial one, we've been working quite closely with the counsel appointed by next-of-kin, Shane's parents, that any relevant evidence that they want to place before the court will be put forward."
The inquiry will stretch till end-May. After that, the state coroner will review the evidence, and independently determine the cause of Dr Todd's death.
The coroner's findings are not subject to appeal. However, the public prosecutor may direct the coroner to reopen the inquiry if it appears further investigations are necessary.
Source: Channel News Asia