An Adelaide man jailed for a brutal murder is now refusing to eat, claiming his religious dietary needs are being ignored in prison — a protest that has now entered its third month.
Sateesh Suppiah, a Sri Lankan refugee who was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2015 for the gruesome stabbing and disembowelment of his former housemate, Ketheshwaran Sivaperuman, began his hunger strike on March 4 at Yatala Labour Prison.
Suppiah alleges the South Australian corrections system has failed to provide him with food that adheres to his strict Hindu vegan diet.
According to 7NEWS and The Advertiser, Suppiah has been surviving mostly on instant noodles since his incarceration, despite his religious restrictions. Six weeks ago, he wrote to a friend, stating he was “sick, weak and in pain”, and feared that “something bad” would soon happen.
Prison authorities have confirmed to 7News that Suppiah has now been moved to the health centre inside Yatala Labour Prison for closer medical monitoring as his protest drags into its ninth week.
The South Australian Department for Correctional Services told 7NEWS that its food services “take cultural considerations into account” when planning meals for inmates.
Suppiah was convicted of murder in 2015 after a Supreme Court jury heard he stabbed Sivaperuman once in the abdomen with such force that it pierced the victim’s spine and exposed his intestines. The two men had once lived together in Adelaide’s northern suburbs after fleeing conflict in Sri Lanka.
The attack occurred in January 2014 following a falling-out between the pair. Justice David Lovell noted that Suppiah had been drinking heavily on the day of the stabbing, and had hidden the knife in his clothing before going to his victim’s home. After the attack, he phoned police, friends and a community leader, attempting to shift the blame to another man.
He was handed a life sentence with a non-parole period of 20 years — the minimum under South Australian law for murder. At the time, ABC News reported that Sivaperuman bled to death within minutes of the stabbing.
“This was a savage and deliberate attack,” Justice Lovell said during sentencing, adding that Suppiah “has not accepted responsibility” for the crime.
In 2023, 7NEWS conducted an in-depth investigation into prison food across Australian states, revealing that inmate meals are often likened to low-budget airline fare—mass-prepared in aluminium trays by fellow inmates, then frozen and reheated.
Former inmate Allum shared that daily meals typically begin with basic cereals or bread, followed by frozen sandwiches for lunch and reheated dinners such as curries or meat-and-three-veg. Inmates often supplement these small portions with canned tuna and instant noodles purchased during weekly “buy-ups”. While food quality varies by security level and state, some lower-security prisoners can plan, shop, and cook meals themselves.
The system also allows for humour and camaraderie, as in one instance where a prank led to an inmate receiving $30 worth of onions. However, privileges are granted case-by-case to prevent violent misuse, such as a 2017 murder involving a sandwich press. Despite limitations, prison kitchens like the Geoffrey Pearce Correctional Centre and Long Bay’s bakery provide inmates with work experience and post-release skills.
Menu planning across Australia adheres to national dietary guidelines, with limited options for vegan diets, but most facilities offer alternatives for cultural, medical, or religious needs. Notably, a South Australian pilot program improved inmate nutrition by expanding menu choices, with plans to roll it out statewide.
Support our Journalism
No-nonsense journalism. No paywalls. Whether you’re in Australia, the UK, Canada, the USA, or India, you can support The Australia Today by taking a paid subscription via Patreon or donating via PayPal — and help keep honest, fearless journalism alive.
