The Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) is to investigate claims that remand prisoner Raja Azman Petra has swallowed razor blades and has suffered abuse at the Sungai Buloh Prison.

Raja Azman - son of fugitive blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin - is said to have swallowed razor blades under mysterious circumstances.

His lawyers have also claimed that he has been assaulted by guards.

The commission said in a statement that its investigations committee will interview Raja Azman and the prison authorities tomorrow.

raja azman raja petra The Suhakam delegation will be led by commissioner N Siva Subramaniam.

Raja Azman, the second child of Raja Petra, was remanded after he claimed trial to four counts of theft, receiving stolen property and criminal trespass.

He is being held at the Sungai Buloh prison as he had failed to post bail.

Raja Petra claimed in his blog that his son inflicted injuries on himself due after the guards 'tortured' him mentally and physically.

The razor blades have not been surgically removed because doctors believe that these are best left to be excreted naturally.

Possible motives

Police and prison authorities have indicated they would conduct separate probes into the incident.

Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department deputy director I (Intelligence/Operation) Hadi Ho Abdullah said that the police would seek help from the prison authorities in its investigation, according to a report by Bernama .

The report quoted Hadi Ho saying the police will rope in the Prisons Department to uncover possible motives for Raja Azman to allegedly swallow a razor blade .

He confirmed he had received the report which was lodged on Feb 8 by the Prisons Department at the Batu Arang police station in Rawang.

It is not immediately known whether Raja Azman's lawyers will be present at the Suhakam meeting tomorrow.