GEORGE TOWN (The Star/Asia News Network) - A request on social media for donations to the family of T. Nhaveen, the 18-year-old who died on Thursday (June 15) following a brutal assault, is a scam, the teenager's uncle said on Friday (June 16).

R. Thiyagarajan, 50, said he was surprised to see such a message as the family had not sought financial help.

"I want to stress that we are not asking for any monetary aid," he told reporters while waiting to claim Nhaveen's body at the hospital's mortuary.

"I hope people will respect us and give us space in this trying time."

The message, which includes a CIMB account number under the name of Shanmugam Mahalingam, asks the recipient to "kindly and lovingly donate some money as our token of compensation for our late dear brother and friend Navi (Nhaveen) who passed away today, Thursday 15th June, 2017".

"You can donate to the account above. Please give wholeheartedly. This collection shall be our humble offering to his family," the message read.

Nhaveen, 18, died at the Penang Hospital at 5.31pm after being savagely beaten by a group of teenagers.

He was found unconscious at around midnight last Saturday at a field in Jalan Kaki Bukit in Bukit Gelugor.

Nhaveen, who was also sodomised and burnt on his back, suffered internal bleeding in his head and abdomen.

His alleged attackers have been remanded.