AGC to review 30 custodial deaths classified as NFA, says Wan Junaidi

 

Sungai Buloh MP R Sivarasa had asked why 30 of the 79 cases of custodial deaths from January 2015 to September 2021 had been classified as ‘no further action’.

PETALING JAYA: The Attorney-General’s Chambers will review all the 30 investigation papers into cases of custodial deaths from January 2015 to September 2021 classified as “no further action”, says law minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.

In a written parliamentary reply to R Sivasara (PH-Sungai Buloh), Wan Junaidi said this was necessary to determine whether the procedures were adhered to in accordance with the law.

“The AGC’s prosecution division takes a serious view of this matter and will provide further feedback once full information on each case is obtained,” he said.

Sivasara had asked Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob to explain why 30 of the 79 cases of deaths in custody during the period had been classified as NFA by the public prosecutor.

The PKR MP, who is a practising lawyer, pointed out that Section 334 of the Criminal Procedure Code required a magistrate to conduct a full inquiry or inquest into the cause of death in all cases of deaths in police lockups.

Last week, Bukit Aman secretary Noorsiah Mohd Saaduddin said 19 deaths in police custody had been reported since the start of this year.

She said 17 of the deaths are still under investigation, with the remaining two cases resolved. Those cases saw four individuals charged with voluntarily causing hurt in one case, and the other being referred to the coroner, she said in a statement.

Noorsiah also said that of the 19 deaths, nine died in police lockups, eight in hospital, and two while being brought to hospital. - FMT