Suaram calls for inquest into death in custody at Seremban prison

 The human rights group says the prisoner died a week before his release after prison officials informed his family he was critically ill.

Suaram said the authorities should provide the man’s family with his medical records, post-mortem findings, and a clear timeline of the events leading to his death at Seremban prison. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA:

A human rights group has called for an immediate and transparent inquest into the death of a 69-year-old inmate at Seremban prison a week before he was due to be released.

Suaram said the Attorney-General’s Chambers should order an inquest under Sections 334 and 339 of the Criminal Procedure Code to determine the cause of death.

Suaram executive director Azura Nasron said the man, who was serving a two-month sentence, had been scheduled to be freed on June 29 but died on June 22 after prison officials informed his family that he was critically ill.

“Ten minutes after the initial call, they were informed that he had passed away,” she said in a statement today, adding that the family was shocked because he had no known underlying health conditions.

Azura claimed the family was prevented from viewing the body on the same day, with prison authorities claiming it had already been sealed.

She urged the prisons department and the home ministry to provide the family with the man’s medical records, post-mortem findings, and a clear timeline of the events leading to his death.

Azura also highlighted a separate case at Simpang Renggam prison in Johor, alleging that a prisoner was beaten on the soles of his feet with a pipe by a warden on June 4, causing serious injuries.

She said that despite a police report being lodged and the prisons department being informed, the prisoner had not been transferred and remained in the same facility as the officer accused of abusing him.

She also called for Section 63A of the proposed Prisons (Amendment) Bill 2026 to be withdrawn, warning that granting prison officers immunity for actions carried out in “good faith” and based on “reasonable belief” would be severely regressive and shield the prison system from public accountability.

Suaram’s call comes as investigations continue into the Jan 17 incident last year at Taiping prison, where more than 100 inmates were allegedly assaulted during a relocation exercise, leaving one detainee dead and nearly 100 others injured.

Five prison wardens have since been charged with assaulting three detainees, while the health ministry has formed a special committee to investigate alleged misconduct by medical officers. - FMT