The emergence of a video showing a man being beaten by an alleged plainclothes police officer while the latter’s colleagues look on has prompted Suaram to reiterate its call for an immediate review of police standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Suaram executive director Sevan Doraisamy also called for the alleged police personnel in the video, believed to be filmed at the Klang Selatan district police headquarters, to be suspended with immediate effect.
"The investigation (of the case) should be conducted by an inspector from the Selangor police headquarters, instead of the Klang Selatan police to avoid any conflict of interest,” he added in a statement.
Suaram urged Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain to issue an Inspector-General Standing Orders (IGSO) to stop the abuse of those in custody and under investigation.
Sevan said the Home Ministry should also work with the police in reviewing the enforcement agency's SOPs.
The eight-second video clip shared by whistleblower Telegram group, Edisi Siasat showed an alleged drug suspect crying in pain as the alleged police personnel stepped on his knee.
Another man is seen beating the suspect’s soles with an object that looks like a cane or rubber hose.
Meanwhile, Sevan, who condemned police brutality, stressed that the local police must meet international standards.
He added that police should adopt the Mendez Principle - where all investigations and information gathering should be based on adherence to scientific methods, the rule of law, ethics and human rights, and not through violence or torture.
Strengthen police accountability
"The police investigation SOP, as well as the police accountability system, need to be strengthened immediately to restore public trust in the police," he added.
Klang Selatan district police chief Cha Hoong Fong was reported as stating that an investigation would be initiated into the incident, which took place on Aug 2 last year.
This was not the first time the Klang Selatan police headquarters has found itself in the spotlight.
In 2021, 36-year-old Umar Faruq bin Abdullah @ Hemanathan died under police custody, just one day after he was arrested.
In 2017, G Ganeshwaran died in hospital after complaining of medical problems during interrogation at the same police headquarters. - Mkini
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