IT'S A NATIONAL ISSUE - PKR's Manickavasagam: DEATH & EXTORTION AT POLICE LOCKUPS

The family of lorry driver P Chandran, who died in the Dang Wangi police headquarters lock-up in September, wants to sue the government and police for negligence.

Based on a post mortem, Chandran, 47, had died due to hypertensive heart disease. The police had allegedly denied him medication while he was in custody.

At a press conference in Parliament, PKR MP for Kapar S Manickavasagam together with the late Chandran’s wife, N Sellvi, 42 and other family members demanded justice for the deceased.

“We are not here because an Indian died. Malays, Chinese, Indians have all died in custody. It’s not a racial issue but a national issue,” Manickavasagam told the press conference.

“Denying a person medication is not right and this was done despite a Magistrate’s order that Chandran be given immediate treatment for his hypertension."

Even extorted RM300 from wife

But that was not all. Worst disclosures were yet to come.

According to the victim's brother-in-law R Rajan Naidu, the police had also asked Chandran's wife to pay RM300 when she sought information about her husband at the Cheras district police headquarters just before his death. Rajan has lodged a police report on this matter.

"She told me that the police officer had sought RM300 for information on her husband, and told her that police were taking him to court," Rajan said in his complaint.

Rajan also told of how Selvi had to "sleep under a bridge" during the two nights she stayed in Kuala Lumpur to check on Chandran, and to pass him his hypertension medication.

The victim, a lorry driver, and his family which consists of six daughters aged 17 and under, are based in Simpang Renggam, Johor. His youngest daughter is a toddler.

No prior criminal record

According to Dang Wangi police chief ACP Zainuddin Ahmad, Chandran was found dead at 7.20pm by a policeman who tried to wake him from sleep. Chandran, who had no prior criminal record, had been detained on Sept 6 for the suspected kidnapping of a child in Sungai Besi

Manickavasagam, who earlier presented a memorandum on the matter to the Inspector General of Police Ismail Omar, said Chandran needed to take his medication for hypertension daily.

But according to the Kapar MP, the police did not allow Sellvi to pass Chandran the medication although she had travelled to Kuala Lumpur all the way from Simpang Renggam, Johor for that purpose.

Asked on the amount of compensation the family was seeking, Manikavasagam said he was working out the details with the lawyers.

“This is not the first time that a death in custody has happened, and we really hope that the police will form an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) to probe into such matters,” said Manikavasagam.

Malaysia Chronicle