The prisons department has cleared the Ayer Molek authorities of any wrongdoing in the death of A Subramaniam o­n March 20.

It cited the findings of a post mortem report and investigations of an inquiry board, saying the youth had died of Septicaemia meningitis.

An English tabloid reported that Subramaniam, a construction worker from Perak, was detained with three others at Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan, o­n Aug 12 last year for allegedly kidnaping a 12-year-old boy.

Witnesses present

On March 28, Parti Reformasi Insan Malaysia (Prim) legal adviser P Uthayakumar had written to the department contending that the Ayer Molek prison personnel were responsible for the youth's death.

Uthayakumar ( photo ), representing Subramaniam's father P Arumugam, alleged that the youth had been assaulted.

Prisons department deputy security director Md Noh Murad, in his six-page reply to Prim dated April 12, said: "A post mortem carried out by Dr Shahidas Md Noor o­n March 21, which was confirmed by coroner Nu'aman Mahmud Zuhudi, established that death was due to Septicaemia meningitis ."

Md Noh also said the post mortem was witnessed by the ASP Preshahdin Moshei and the youth's relatives.

"The investigation did not reveal any form of abuse by prison officers. Questioning of his former cell mates revealed that he had suffered health problems while under detention," he said.

Detailed explanation

A copy of the letter, which was made available to malaysiakini yesterday by Prim, detailed the measures taken to deal with Subramaniam's health problems since he was detained o­n March 3 and transferred to the prison.

A routine medical examination o­n arrival revealed rash o­n his hands and feet, for which he received treatment. o­n March 17, however, he showed "signs of strange behaviour, seemed to be in a daze and had trouble controlling his bowels".

After being isolated for two days for medical observation, he was initially treated at the Sultanah Aminah hospital in Johor Baru and then at Hospital Permai in Tampoi. o­n his return to prison, he was kept in a special-care room pending an application to the court to transfer him to Hospital Permai.

The court order was received o­n March 20 and Subramaniam was again taken to the Sultanah Aminah hospital in the evening for treatment. However, he was pronounced dead o­n arrival at the emergency unit. The post mortem was carried out the following day.

(A web search reveals that meningitis is caused by either a bacteria or virus, resulting in inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Septicaemia is the blood poisoning form of the disease. Babies, young children and young adults are more at risk than others.

( Symptoms

of septicaemia include rash (anywhere o­n the body), fever, vomiting, drowsiness or impaired consciousness, cold hands and feet, rapid breathing, stomach/joint/muscle pain and sometimes diarrhoea. )

Cell mate's complaint

Prim had also charged that Subramaniam's friend S Sherma Naidu and two other detainees had been assaulted and tortured by prison officials after they went o­n a hunger strike to protest against filthy conditions in Ayer Molek prison.

Uthayakumar had claimed that the officials were trying to conceal information o­n Subramaniam's death because Sherma's family was initially denied visitation rights, while the detainee was kept in a special room for investigation purposes.

Responding, Md Noh said in his letter: "On March 20, a prisons security team inspected (Sherma's) cell and seized some money and several prohibited items. A police report was made. According to prisons regulations, all the occupants of the cell were removed to separate rooms for questioning.

"When (Sherma's) relative arrived at the prison to visit him, an officer o­n duty duly informed the person of the circumstances, but the information was not accepted.

"It is the department's policy not to allow visitors access to any inmate being held in isolation (for a period not exceeding seven days). This is to facilitate questioning as well as to prevent contamination of evidence. o­n March 24, upon completion of the investigation, Sherma was released from isolation."

Md Noh said the inquiry board had established that the detainee was never beaten o­n the head or legs as alleged, and that the department was satisfied that there had been no abuse of power in relation to both cases.

However, Uthayakumar said Subramaniam's family remains unconvinced with the department's explanation.

"The family regrets that the police had refused to push for an inquest before a coroner, as provided under the Criminal Procedure Code," he said.

"Unless there is an inquest, they will continue suspecting that there was foul play in Subramaniam's death."