Family members of A Kugan, who are upset over this morning's acquittal of constable V Navindran, are demanding a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) to probe the death.

Navindran, 28, was acquitted for causing grievous hurt to Kugan, 22, when interrogating him at the Taipan police station in USJ-Subang Jaya on Jan 16, 2009.

Kugan case 020709 04 "It's clear that we are not happy with the court decision, and the family is not in peace.

"There is no closure of the matter for Kugan's family, and this is not fair," lawyer N Surendran ( left ) told a press conference in Petaling Jaya today.

He said the RCI should go into the case with a fine toothcomb.

"We want an RCI with wide powers, for the death to be investigated more thoroughly. All those involved must be charged.

"This is what happens when there is no transparency," he added.

'He was only a suspect, then suddenly he dies'

Kugan's aunt, S Reguna, 33, said she was unhappy with the verdict, since initially 11 police officers were said to be involved, but only one was charged in court, but he got off free.

"It's been two years since Kugan was killed... he was just a suspect when he was arrested, not charged with any crime. Then, suddenly after five days in custody, he dies. How is that possible?

"The attorney-general said 11 officers were involved, then only one was charged, and that too there is no case against him now. All free without kesalahan ? So, how did his internal bleeding come about?" Reguna asked.

A post-mortem commissioned by the deceased's family and conducted by a Universiti Malaya Medical Centre pathologist found the car theft suspect to have died from kidney failure as a result of assault, and that he had also been starved during the incarceration.

The beatings had caused a breakdown in Kugan's muscle cells, which then congested the blood flow and resulted in kidney failure.

AG responsible for 'shameful verdict'

The other lawyer representing Kugan's family, R Sivarasa, said attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail should take responsibility for the shameful verdict in Kugan's case and step down immediately.

petition to investigate kugan's death to istana 260909 kugan mother cry "The verdict this morning did not bring any justice at all. There is no justice for the family.

"Therefore, I call on you, Gani Patail, to resign," Sivarasa said.

Kugan's mother, N Indra, 41, a hotel worker, who broke down in tears a few times during the press conference, would only say, “I want my boy back,” when approached by Malaysiakini .

Yet another blot for AG, says Kit Siang

Joining the calls for a royal commission is DAP whose parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang today described today's acquittal as "yet another blot in the service of Gani Patail."

"(Gani) had said that 11 officers were involved but only one was charged - and even the one charged ended with his acquittal," he said in a statement.

lim kit siang on conversion case 210409 03 He added that if a royal commission can be called for the death of DAP political aide Teoh Beng Hock following an unsatisfactory 'open verdict', then the same can be done for Kugan.

This is because the acquittal today showed that the handling of the case in the past two years have been "most unsatisfactory and irresponsible", calling for the RCI to also examine and recommend new standard operating procedures.

On the same thread, Lim renewed the call for the implementation of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) as proposed by the Dziaiddin Police Royal Commission six years ago.

VIDEO l 7.58 mins

MIC too wants independent probe into Kugan's death