Cheras police probing death in custody case, NGO wants inquest

 

Human rights NGO Edict has raised the alarm over yet another death in custody victim, this time involving the Cheras district police headquarters lock-up.

Cheras police have since confirmed the death but said the victim was alone in his cell when he was found.

Police have begun investigations and have thus far classified it as a “sudden death”. They are also probing the lock-up officer who was on duty at the time.

In a statement today, Edict (Eliminating Deaths and Abuse in Custody Together) expressed concern over the case and called for an inquest.

“Edict is worried about the increasing trend of death in custody cases.

“We understand that the police have accused the victim of hanging himself in the lock-up. This accusation does not make sense because every lock-up is always monitored by CCTVs and several police officers at all times [...]"

It stressed that an inquest must be held to investigate this case.

The NGO, which provides legal aid to victims and their families, noted that Section 334 of the Criminal Procedure Code stipulated that inquests were mandatory for death in custody cases.

In a separate statement, Cheras police chief Mohamed Mokhsein Mohamed Zon said the 54-year-old male victim was found to have hung himself in his cell on Monday (March 8) around 12:30pm.

“The lock-up officer realised the incident during the process of bringing other detainees in the lock-up cell next door for investigation for another case.

“During the incident, the victim was in the lock-up cell alone because other detainees in the same cell had been brought to the Duta Court Complex in Kuala Lumpur to be charged,” he said.

Elaborating, Mokhsein said the death was presently under investigation.

“Further investigation is being conducted under a sudden death report.

“Internal investigations are being conducted by the Integrity and Standards Compliance Department (Jips) on the lock-up officer,” he said.

He shared that a coroner from the Duta Court Complex and a pathologist from Hospital Canselor Tuanku Mukhriz had conducted an investigation at the scene on the same day at 3pm.

A post-mortem was conducted on March 9.

Mokhsein did not state if an inquest will be conducted. Malaysiakini has contacted him for clarification.

Meanwhile, he also provided details about the victim’s criminal record.

A taxi driver, the man was arrested on March 4 for drug possession and was investigated under Section 39 (B) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952. He later tested positive for methamphetamines.

He was supposed to be remanded until March 10.

Mokhsein said the man had four previous convictions under Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 (Self Administration); Section 386 of the Penal Code (Extortion by putting a person in fear of death or grievous hurt); Section 506 of the Penal Code (Criminal Intimidation) and Section 8 of the Firearms Act 1971 (unlawful possession of firearms). - Mkini