A police officer told the Sessions Court in Petaling Jaya that A Kugan, who died while in police custody, did not have any injury when a physical examination was conducted on him at the Puchong Jaya police station before he was sent to the lock-up.

Constable Hairol Anuar Zainuddin, 24, who was in charge of the detainee receiving division at the station, said the examination was conducted on nine people, including Kugan.

"There were all ordered to stand and then sit 10 times, which was to ensure they did not hide any prohibited items in their bodies," he added.

He said when such examination was conducted, the detainees would be required to take off all their clothing and be in a squatting position.

Hairol Anuar, who is the seventh prosecution witness, was testifying in the case of Kugan's death while in police custody, several days after his arrest on Jan 15, last year.

The accused in the case, constable V Navindran, 28, pleaded not guilty last Oct 1 to two counts of causing grievous hurt to Kugan, 23.

Navindran, represented by PM Nagarajan, is accused of having committed the offence at the interrogation room of office D9, at the Taipan Police Station, USJ, Subang Jaya at 7am, on Jan 16 last year.

For the offence, Navindran is being charged under Section 331 of the Penal Code which carries a jail term of up to 10 years and could also be fined upon conviction.

On the two alternative charges, Navindran also pleaded not guilty to intentionally causing hurt to Kugan at 7am and 4pm at the same place and date.

He is being charged under Section 330 of the Penal Code which carries a jail term of seven years and could also be fined upon conviction.

Hairol Anuar also told the court that the examination on Kugan and the other eight detainees was conducted at 12.45pm.

No health problems

When questioned by deputy public prosecutor Lailawati Ali, he said it was a police procedure for examination be conducted on all detainees before they were sent to the lock-up to ensure they had no health problems.

"If a detainee is sick or injured, we will sent him to a clinic or a hospital for treatment, and we will not accept a suspect or detainee who is injured. This is our procedure," he added.

To a question whether there was other ways to ascertain the detainees were not injured, Hairol Anuar said he would ask the detainees if they had any injuries or not.

Hearing before judge Aslam Zainuddin continues tomorrow.

- Bernama