In a rare turn of events, the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital in Klang became a courtroom for a 23-year-old youth said to have been abused while in police custody.

The suspect, who is still bedridden but conscious, was charged under Section 39(A)(1) of the Dangerous Drug Act for allegedly possessing 44.5 grams of cannabis. He pleaded not guilty.

The suspect was hospitalised last week after consuming paint thinner at the police station where he was detained.

Yesterday, his mother and sister were questioned by the police concerning their claim that he was abused when in custody and subsequently drank the poisonous liquid.

The mother lodged a police report on Apr 11, stating that her son had spoken of his ordeal to her and told her that he was allegedly kicked and beaten with a rubber hose.

Based on the bruises on his body, the family demanded that an independent committee be formed to investigate the matter and called for the immediate suspension of the police personnel involved.

Protest outside Bukit Aman

Meanwhile, today's proceedings at the hospital was held before Klang Magistrate Liew Horng Bin at about 4pm.

Defence counsel Francis Pereira told Malaysiakini that the prosecution wanted bail to be set at RM8,000 but the defence argued that the amount was "too high and tantamount to incarceration."

Although the defence appealed for the bail to be set at RM2,000, the magistrate imposed a RM3,000 conditional bail with two sureties which requires the suspect to report to a police station twice a week after being discharged from hospital.

Hearing is scheduled for May 29.

However, Francis said his client, who is no longer warded in the intensive care unit, was still short of breath and weak.

The suspect is liable to face a maximum five-year jail sentence and minimum three strokes and not more than nine strokes of the rotan.

In a related development, some 20 people lead by PKR Youth and the Makkal Sakthi movement with human rights lawyer N Surendran staged a protest outside the Bukit Aman police headquarters.

They submitted a memorandum demanding that an independent committee be formed to investigate the abuse claims and the immediate suspension of all those involved.

The memorandum also called for the resignation of Selangor police chief Khalid Abu Bakar.

Contacted later, Surendran said the suspect was charged although still hospitalised because the police were taking a ‘tit-for-tat’ action.

"They must have known about our protest today because shortly after that, the investigating officer called and informed that the magistrate will charge him in the hospital," he said.

"They could have released him on police bail first until he gets better and charge him later... but this is to make him look like a criminal even before he is determined to be guilty," he added.

Editor’s note: The suspect’s name has been removed from this report along with his family members.