The High Court today finds the government and the Royal Malaysian Police liable for causing the death of A. Kugan while in custody of the Taipan police station in Subang Jaya, four years ago.
In the civil suit, filed by Kugan’s mother N. Indra last year, High Court judge V.T. Singham said the statement of inspector general of police Khalid Abu Bakar, the then Selangor police chief, contradicted several witnesses in the investigation into the death of the deceased.
Besides Khalid and the Malaysian government, former constable V. Navindran and Subang Jaya police chief Zainal Rashid Abu Bakar (now deceased) were also named in the civil suit.
Singham awarded a total of RM851,700 to Indra as compensation.
22-year old Kugan, a suspect for car theft according to the police, was found dead inside the Taipan police station lock-up in January 2009.
Following a public outcry which included a large procession at Kugan's funeral, a sole policeman was found guilty and sentenced to three years’ jail.
But in his judgement today, Singham dismissed that injuries inflicted on Kugan had been the work of a single individual and pointed out that senior policemen could not plead ignorance.
"No person in any position or rank when testifying in court should take this court for granted and attempt to suppress the truth to escape liability," The Malaysian Insider quoted him as saying.
Singham also called for the setting-up of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission "as soon as possible".
Today's judgement comes in the wake of a spike in custodial deaths since January this year, leading to renewed calls for the government to implement the IPCMC, which top brass of the police force have strongly resisted citing there are already 'adequate' laws to deal with police misconduct.
- HarakahDaily
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