Cops being questioned over Dharmendran's death

Several individuals including police officers have been hauled up to assist in the investigation into the custodial death of N Dharmendran.

Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) deputy director Hadi Ho Abdullah stressed that the police will not compromise on the matter even though this had happened in the custody of the Kuala Lumpur serious crimes division,Berita Harianreported today.

"We have called up a  number of officers to record their statements to assist in the investigation before we identify those who responsible for the cause of death,”  he was quoted as saying.

"The investigation will be done as swiftly as possible so that those responsible for causing Dhamendran's death will face action according to law."

Bukit Aman police headquarters had said in a statement yesterday that it has taken over the investigation after the post-mortem report indicated the possibility of criminal elements in Dharmendran's death.

"For this purpose, a special team has been formed to ensure that the investigation is conducted transparently and fairly. It will not shield any officers found to be involved," it said.

Yesterday, the police recorded a statement from Dharmendran's wife M Marry and her lawyer N Surendran(left).

They were among eight individuals whose statements have been recorded to date, according to Berita Harian.

Dharmendran was reportedly arrested when he lodged a police report after being involved in a fight on May 11.

His wife and parents only knew of his arrest on May 19 and had visited Dharmendran at the police lock-up.

He was to have been released on bail on May 21 but Mary received a call saying he had died.

Kuala Lumpur CID chief Ku Chin Wah was quoted as saying that the 31-year-old had died as a result of breathing difficulties.

However, police later classified the case as murder after a consultant pathologist at Hospital Kuala Lumpur confirmed that Dharmendran had died of multiple blunt force trauma.