The Teoh Beng Hock Trust for Democracy has called on the government to immediately set up the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) to investigate the cause of death of A Ganapathy.
It has also called for an overhaul of the Lockup Rules 1953 to protect detainees’ right to access medicine, after the death of Ganapathy who was detained at the Gombak police headquarters on Feb 24, and died on April 20 after a month in Selayang Hospital's intensive care unit.
"His family has accused the police of refusing to hand over life-saving medicine for diabetes and heart disease to Ganapathy.
"This is not the first time that a detainee complained of being beaten by the police while under detention and denied access to life-saving medicine," said the trust's chairperson Ng Yap Hwa in a statement today.
"Repeated violations of human rights by the police show the failure of the police's internal disciplinary procedure, therefore the government should not delay the establishment of the IPCMC anymore," he added.
Ganapathy's mother S Thanaletchumy, 60, said her son told her that police had beaten him with a rubber hose.
While at the hospital, Ganapathy was confirmed to have kidney problems and his legs had to be amputated.
His family claimed Ganapathy’s health deteriorated because of his stint in police custody, resulting in his leg being swollen and bruised as though he had been beaten.
Ganapathy had worked as a trader selling cow’s milk and left behind two children aged five and seven years old.
He was arrested on Feb 24 to facilitate investigations into his sibling who is wanted by the police.
Ng said that the independent police complaint commission can investigate alleged acts of torture and inhuman treatment by police officers responsible for those in custody, eliminate the culture of impunity among the police, and create a professional police force that respects human rights.
"In addition, we urge the government to immediately overhaul the Lockup Rules 1953. New provisions relating to detainees’ right to access medicine and penalties must be added.
"Doctors should be tasked to examine the health status of all detainees, any person with a serious disease should not be detained under police custody, or any enforcement agency’s custody.
"We believe that these measures will be able to protect detainees’ right to health while under detention of the police or any other enforcement agencies," Ng added.
Klang MP Charles Santiago made a similar call to Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador as cases of suspicious lock-up deaths continue to occur at a regular rate. - Mkini
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