The Malaysian Bar Council expressed alarm today over the deaths of 19 people this year while in police custody and called for an investigation into the deaths.

The high number of deaths in police custody has cast doubt over the integrity of the police force in treating detainees and in the administration of lock-ups, it said in a statement.

The Bar Council, which represents some 8,000 lawyers in the country, said it could also generate public fear and block their cooperation with police in investigating and preventing crime.

It called for each death to be "thoroughly explained and the investigative process kept visibly transparent."

Charge them

Chairperson Mah Weng Kwai said problems leading to the deaths, such as a lack of hygiene and basic amenities, to violence among inmates and police brutality against detainees, must also be addressed.

"Proper administration and surveillance of detainees in lock-ups should also be looked into," he said.

The council urged the public prosecutor to charge those found responsible for any unlawful deaths or abuse of those in police custody.

The death of 32-year-old R Sundaraju on Monday after allegedly being beaten unconscious by other detainees in a lock-up has put the spotlight yet again on rising deaths in police custody.

National police chief Norian Mai has promised to probe Sundaraju's death and plans were underway to mount close-circuit cameras at all police lock-ups nationwide by the end of the year. AFP