Family demands independent probe into Karuna's death

The family members of death in custody victim P Karuna Nithi are demanding that the police form an independent investigation panel to investigate the death of the former engineer.

“The family is not satisfied and suspects that the victim died due to being beaten by police officers while in police custody,” the family said in a memorandum handed over to the police at the Bukit Aman police headquarters today.

The memorandum also requests inspector-general of police (IGP) Khalid Abu Bakar to take action against Negri Sembilan police chief Osman Salleh following the latter’s statement previously that Karuna, who died while under police custody in Tampin, did not have any injury marks on his body.

However, an autopsy report last Friday revealed that Karuna had 49 injuries on his body, with a majority of the injuries on his chest and legs being caused by blunt objects.

“The family is yet to be given an explanation with regard to what actually happened that caused Karuna's death,” the memorandum further reads.

The memorandum was handed over to the assistant chief of the IGP’s secretariat, ACP Ramli Mohamed Yusuf, at 11.50am this morning at Bukit Aman.

The family also attached with the memorandum a police report which was lodged on June 4 at the Tampin police station, along with the autopsy report from Hospital Tuanku Jaafar.

Karuna’s brother P Elam Sezhian, PKR complaints bureau chief P Manikavasagam, and representatives of four NGOs were among those who were present to hand over the memorandum.

Manikavasagam, who is acting as a spokesperson for the family, said that his side will now send a memorandum to the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) on the matter.

“We will send a memorandum to Suhakam this Friday. We want an inquiry to be conducted into his death,” he said.

Karuna, 42, was arrested on May 27 after being alleged to have attacked his wife. He died in police custody on June 2.