Ex-cop: I was made the scapegoat over Kugan's death

A former constable who was accused of causing hurt on A Kugan told the Kuala Lumpur High Court that he had been made a scapegoat by the former Subang Jaya OCPD without his consent (walaupun saya tidak sudi).

V Navindran, 32, the first defence witness to testify in the RM100 million death in custody suit by Kugan’s mother, also told the court that lock-up rules were not followed with regard to Kugan’s detention.

Navindran (right), who has beenfound guilty by the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court last June and sentenced to three years’ jail, also told the court that he was not on duty when Kugan was said to have breathing difficulties at about 11.40am on Jan 20, 2009.

“I was supposed to begin work at about noon until 4pm on that fateful day. At the said time, Kugan was placed under the care of Detective Korporal Silvem and Lans Koperal Sani (no full names). Hence, I do not know what happened to Kugan while under the care of the two cops on that day.

“I arrived early to work on that day and saw that Silvem and Sani were guarding and interrogating Kugan. Suddenly Silvem, who looked panicked, asked me to find ASP Rodney to seek medical help as Kugan was complaining of difficulty in breathing,” he said, in replying to questions from his counsel Ramesh Sivakumar.

Navindran said after seeking Rodney’s permission, he went to a nearby clinic to call a doctor and the doctor verified Kugan’s death.

Prior to being charged in court in October 2009, Navindran said the Subang Jaya OCPD (the late) ACP Zainal Rashid Abu Bakar called in all police personnel involved in the care and custody of Kugan.

“This was to determine who among us will be the scapegoat in this case. Finally, I was chosen to be the scapegoat although I did not volunteer (walaupun saya tidak sudi),” he said, adding there were no less than 10 people who had access to the suspects kept there.

Navindran said Kugan had been subjected to continuous interrogation, where officers would take turns doing so, since his arrest on Jan 15.

‘No lock-up in Taipan police station’

Hence, he said any members of the D9 (Serious Crime) could go in and out of the Taipan police station and would be exposed to Kugan, as there was no lock-up there.

Navindran said the food and drinks of the suspects would be at the discretion and sympathy of the police personnel who are caring for the suspect as sometimes they had to fork out their own money to buy food and drinks.

“Any police station which does not have a lock-up would not have food or drinks prepared. This was made known to our superior officers but they did not do anything to solve the problem.”

[More to follow]