Edict pushes for inquest after second prisoner death this month

Human rights NGO Eliminating Deaths And Abuse In Custody Together (Edict) is calling for an inquest into a second death in prison this month.

Edict said it was informed about the death of an inmate yesterday at Bentong Prison, Pahang.

"According to the victim's family, they were informed by the Prisons Department that the death was due to seizures," it said in a statement.

It stressed that every life is precious, and death in custody should not happen.

"Edict urges the Attorney-General's Chambers to initiate an inquest.

"The police and Prisons Department must respect the power of the coroner's court under Section 334 of the Criminal Procedure Code that states any death in a lockup, prison or mental hospital must be brought to the coroner for an immediate investigation," it said.

Earlier this month, Edict also reported the death of an inmate on Sept 1 at the Pengkalan Chepa prison in Kelantan.

Edict noted that earlier this year, there was also another death in custody incident in a Bentong police lockup.

It said an inquest for Jestus Kevin who died in the Bentong police lockup in April has yet to see an inquest to date. - Mkini