KARACHI: David Oliver Relin the co-author of “Three Cups of Tea” committed suicide, medical examiner confirmed to foreign media press.
Relin, was a journalist who specialized in humanitarian issues co-authored the book with Greg Mortensen who has recognition in Pakistan as he claimed to open up schools in the north of the country after he failed to climb the K2 which allowed him to mix with the locals due to his ailing health, and made him realize the lack of basic necessities.
Though the authors faced allegations of fabricating the story, both have stated that some parts of the story were recorded over different courses of time and might have been compressed. In addition Relin’s lawyer also stated that the author quoted in the “introduction” section that he recognized inaccuracies as Mortensen had very vague memories of some events which made it difficult to mark the exact event. However Mortensen had to repay $1 million to his charity, Central Asia Institute and resigned as the board member as evidence surfaced of financial wrongdoings.
Relin’s was writing another book “Second Suns, Two Doctors and Their Amazing Quest to Restore Sight and Save Lives," which was to be published in June 2013.
According to reports he died of a blunt force head injury as stated by the Deputy Chief Medical Examiner.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2012