Death in custody – cop transferred out, now under investigation

 

Selangor police chief Arjunaidi Mohamed said further action would be taken against the policeman involved based on the results of the investigation. (Bernama pic)

SHAH ALAM: The investigating officer involved in the latest death in custody case at the South Klang district police headquarters has been transferred out and investigations into the matter are now in the hands of the state criminal investigation department.

The Selangor police will focus on aspects of negligence and violation of SOPs by the personnel conducting the investigation into the crime of the deceased, state police chief Arjunaidi Mohamed said.

Arjunaidi said the state CID was carrying out investigations under Section 223 of the Penal Code for negligence in handling a person under custody.

He said the investigating officer with the rank of sergeant had been transferred immediately, and further action would be taken against him based on the results of the investigation.

“A sudden death report (SDR) was also opened in line with our objective to determine the cause of death and the inspection at the scene was carried out by the CID team from the Selangor police headquarters,” he told a press conference today.

Arjunaidi said that in the 1.50pm incident yesterday, a 36-year-old local man who was a detainee at the South Klang IPD, died after jumping from the second floor of the building while under remand for questioning over the alleged theft of gas cylinders.

He said the detainee had tried to escape while heading back to the lock-up after having his statement recorded at the investigating officer’s office, where the suspect pushed the personnel and jumped out through an open window on the second floor.

“The detainee fell on the outside of the concrete divider between the first and second floors before falling on a motorcycle in the parking area. This caused cracks on the skull and face of the detainee,” he said, adding that the autopsy would be performed at the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah hospital in Klang.

Meanwhile, commenting on criticism from domestic and foreign NGOs over police action in recording the statements of journalists over the death of police detainee A Ganapathy, he said no one was above the law.

He said that when police receive a report from an individual, they would investigate the report regardless of the background of the person involved.

“We do (investigations) to ensure justice to all parties so if there is a matter arising under any circumstances, it is our responsibility to interrogate (if there is a report made),” he said.

Commenting on the number of compounds issued by the Selangor police during the total lockdown so far, Arjunaidi said a total of 487 compounds had been issued for various offences from June 1-3. - FMT