12th custodial death reported, this time in Sarawak

 

Police said the detainee had been earlier held temporarily at the Bintulu district police headquarters after his arrest for drugs and immigration-related offences.

PETALING JAYA: Another custodial death was reported yesterday, this time in Sarawak. It was the 12th case recorded in the country this year.

Bukit Aman integrity and standards compliance department (JIPS) director Azri Ahmad said this involved a 48-year-old Indonesian man, arrested for drugs and immigration-related offences.

He was detained temporarily at the Bintulu district police headquarters.

The man complained of breathing difficulties and was sent for further treatment at the Bintulu Hospital, where he died. The cause of death has yet to be determined.

JIPS will carry out a detailed investigation into the death, Azri said in a statement today.

The last custodial death involved a Myanmar national, who died at the Tanah Merah Hospital in Kelantan on Feb 26 due to Covid-19. He had been detained at the Jaram Perdah police station in Pasir Mas for immigration-related offences.

Many groups, especially civil society organisations and MPs, had raised the alarm over the high number of custodial deaths that had been recorded. - FMT