Government 'failed to notify' parents of son's death in detention

The family of an Indian student who was found dead in a Melbourne immigration detention centre believe the Australian government failed to properly inform them about his death.

maribyrnong_dipb_flickr.jpg

Maribyrnong Immigration Detention Centre in Victoria. (Flickr: DIBP)

27-year-old Dalvir Singh died at the Maribyrnong detention centre on February 13 after allegedly taking his own life.

Mr Singh was detained at the centre after overstaying his student visa.

His brother Harpal has told SBS Radio's Punjabi program, he believes the federal government should have kept him informed about what took place.

"As far as the detention centre or the police is concerned, they didn't think it was their duty to tell me anything. They didn't even give me the news about his death. It was the Indian Consulate that told me about it. I am a citizen of this country- I live here. Shouldn't the authorities here look after their citizens? Whatever I've come to know, it's only through media reports or newspapers."

Victorian Police have confirmed they are not regarding the death as suspicious and are currently preparing a report for the coroner.

The coroner's office says there will be a public hearing into the matter which is being treated as a death in custody.




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