The family members of Cheah Chin Lee who died in police custodyon Aug 13 are ‘increasingly frustrated" that there has been no outcome on the police probe despite a two-month wait.
The deceased's aunt, Leanne Cheah, said that the family had met with George Town OCPD Gan Kong Meng (left) on Sept 18 and was told that the force was waiting for the toxicology and pathologist report, and the CCTV enhancement footage.
Gan had reassured them that once the reports are submitted, a date for the enquiry would be fixed, added Cheah, at a press conference with state executive councillor Chow Kon Yeow, yesterday.
She added that on Sept 30, the family was informed by one ASP Naim that the reports had been received and were in order.
"It is of course in the police interest to get the public enquiry on the way to allay any suspicion," Cheah, a retired pharmacist, told journalists present.
"But to date our lawyer informed us that the court has still not received the Sudden Death Report which should have been submitted immediately upon death of Chin Lee," she said.
Death just another statistics?
Cheah claimed that ASP Naim said the Sudden Death report had been submitted to the Department of Public Prosecution in Penang over two weeks ago.
However, two days ago, the ASP informed the family that the report was still at Putrajaya Police Headquarters.
"Naturally the family is getting increasingly frustrated as we do not want Chin Lee's death to be just another number in the Suaram Report," she added.
Chin Lee, on suspicion of stealing a motorcycle, was arrested at midnight and held at the Tanjung Tokong Police Station before being taken to Jalan Pattani for a urine test.
He was brought back to Tanjung Tokong Police Station at 5am and 20 minutes later, was found dead, hanging from the window grills in his prison cell.
Last month, accompanied by the Penang chapter of Suaram, Chin Lee's family submitted amemorandum to Suhakam commissioner Muhammad Sha'ani Abdullah, who said he would help them find answers to their plight.
Chow, (right) who is Tanjung MP, urged immediate police action, citing Section 334 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) which requires the police to hold an inquiry into the cause of death of a prisoner.
The deceased's aunt, Leanne Cheah, said that the family had met with George Town OCPD Gan Kong Meng (left) on Sept 18 and was told that the force was waiting for the toxicology and pathologist report, and the CCTV enhancement footage.Gan had reassured them that once the reports are submitted, a date for the enquiry would be fixed, added Cheah, at a press conference with state executive councillor Chow Kon Yeow, yesterday.
She added that on Sept 30, the family was informed by one ASP Naim that the reports had been received and were in order.
"It is of course in the police interest to get the public enquiry on the way to allay any suspicion," Cheah, a retired pharmacist, told journalists present.
"But to date our lawyer informed us that the court has still not received the Sudden Death Report which should have been submitted immediately upon death of Chin Lee," she said.
Death just another statistics?
Cheah claimed that ASP Naim said the Sudden Death report had been submitted to the Department of Public Prosecution in Penang over two weeks ago.
However, two days ago, the ASP informed the family that the report was still at Putrajaya Police Headquarters.
"Naturally the family is getting increasingly frustrated as we do not want Chin Lee's death to be just another number in the Suaram Report," she added.
Chin Lee, on suspicion of stealing a motorcycle, was arrested at midnight and held at the Tanjung Tokong Police Station before being taken to Jalan Pattani for a urine test.
He was brought back to Tanjung Tokong Police Station at 5am and 20 minutes later, was found dead, hanging from the window grills in his prison cell. Last month, accompanied by the Penang chapter of Suaram, Chin Lee's family submitted amemorandum to Suhakam commissioner Muhammad Sha'ani Abdullah, who said he would help them find answers to their plight.
Chow, (right) who is Tanjung MP, urged immediate police action, citing Section 334 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) which requires the police to hold an inquiry into the cause of death of a prisoner.
Report deliberately delayed?
"It is now close to two months since Chin Lee's death and I would like to ask if the police are deliberately delaying the matter," said Chow, who is state DAP chairperson.
"What excuses do the police have for the family this time? If the police cannot even do something as simple as following a statutory procedure, how can the police claim to be conducting an 'independent' investigation over the death of a person who was in their care?"
Chow said he does not expect more empty promises to be made, but instead the soonest possible submit the Sudden Death Report to a magistrate's court as required under S334 of the CPC.
He added that the police must not be seen to hinder the family's quest for the truth behind Chin Lee's death.
"What excuses do the police have for the family this time? If the police cannot even do something as simple as following a statutory procedure, how can the police claim to be conducting an 'independent' investigation over the death of a person who was in their care?"
Chow said he does not expect more empty promises to be made, but instead the soonest possible submit the Sudden Death Report to a magistrate's court as required under S334 of the CPC.
He added that the police must not be seen to hinder the family's quest for the truth behind Chin Lee's death.
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