Paul Low clarifies 'secret' call to Dharmendran's dad

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Paul Low has clarified that the phone call made by his officer to the family of N Dharmendran, who was found dead in police custody, was not to settle the case out of court, but to offer assistance.

“Basic human rights is the right of all. It was on this basis that my office had attempted to reach out to the family yesterday. We tried to explain that we are willing to work together with any party, regardless of political affiliations.

“This was sadly misunderstood as a means to settle out of court. This was never our intention. I still confirm that we are ready to work with any party, regardless of political affiliations, to ensure expedient justice to all,” said the newly-minted minister in a statement issued today.

The minister overseeing human rights and integrity was responding to the claim of Dharmendran’s father earlier today that he was contacted by an officer from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) yesterday.

B Narayanasamy, 59 said at a press conference at PKR headquarters this afternoon that a caller named Ravindran had spoken to him, and asked that their conversation be kept confidential.

Narayanasamy added that Dharmendran’s wife, S Marry, 28, was subsequently contacted by the same individual.

“He said he was from the PMO and that he wanted to meet with Marry and me to talk about Dharmendran’s death and to not inform our lawyers about this as well as our secret meeting,” he explained in Tamil.

According to Narayanasamy, Ravindran told them not to engage in their current lawyers as he would provide the family with his own, which Narayanasamy saw as “an attempt to cover up”.

Narayanasamy had rejected the offer as he believed the investigation needed to be focused on the cause of his son’s death and not on his family.

“The pathologist declared he had died of blunt force trauma, so why not continue with the investigations?” he asked.

Explanation sought from Najib

He demanded an explanation from Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak as to why officers within his department were interfering with Dharmendran’s death when they should be “charging the police officer who was responsible for his murder” instead.

His statements were translated by family lawyers G Sivamalar and PKR vice-president N Surendran, who were in attendance at the press conference today.

In the statement issued later, Low said his office has also contacted PKR's Subang MP R Sivarasa yesterday to clarity that his ministry is willing to bridge the political divide.

He called on the police to hasten their investigation which should be transparent, impartial and definitive. 

“I have spoken to the home minister on this and have his assurance of a thorough investigation and anyone found responsible will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”

Low also urged the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to conduct a parallel investigation given allegations of possible corruption involved. 

“I certainly believe that the various enforcement agencies would deliver an expedient and thorough investigation and bring to justice whoever is responsible.

The former Transparency-International Malaysia (TI-M) chapter president assured the public that a thorough evaluation of all procedures, practices and regulations will be made to ensure that they comply with the highest standard of integrity to safeguard the well-being of any person in custody.

Yesterday the police announced that a special committee headed by inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar will be set up to curb incidents involving deaths in police lock-ups.

Dharmendran, 31, was picked up by police on May 11 after he had lodged a report at the Pudu police station over his involvement in a fight. He was remanded at the Kuala Lumpur police contingent headquarters and found dead on May 22.

His parents and wife had not been informed of his arrest until May 19, where they had visited him at the police lock-up on the very same day.

Consultant pathologist Dr Siew Sheue Feng from Kuala Lumpur Hospital later confirmed that Dharmendran had died of blunt force trauma, a result of the numerous staples and beatings inflicted to his body.