Federal CID director Musa Hassan said the serious crimes unit of federal police headquarters Bukit Aman is now in charge of investigating the case of detainee G Francis Udayapan, said to have 'escaped' from the Brickfields police lock-up 10 days ago.

"We don't want to seem biased in our investigations. Bukit Aman has been directed to take over investigations from Kuala Lumpur as of yesterday," said Musa when contacted today.

This was the second such transfer of jurisdiction in the space of two working days, following claims by the 24-year-old detainee's family that he had died in Brickfields police custody and that his body had been dumped into the Klang River.

Last Thursday, Kuala Lumpur police had been instructed to take over from the Brickfields district police.

Musa, however, declined to say when investigation into the high profile case is expected to be completed or to provide details as to the extent to which the claims have been verified.

"There are so many allegations (made in connection to Francis' disappearance). We will have to investigate them all," he said.

Musa was also asked to comment on a meeting scheduled between himself and either Francis' family or his lawyers.

The meeting did not take place because the family, lawyers and NGO supporters would not agree to Musa's condition that he would only meet with one person from the group.

'Position clear'

Musa said the limit was placed because the group has already made its position and allegations clear in their police reports, memoranda and letters to the police and the press since last week, and that he is well aware of their claims.

"The family can easily send their lawyers on their behalf. They have written letters. I know their position well. But at the moment the case is still under investigation and I would not be able to reveal anything," he said.

The detainee's mother G Sara Lilly has alleged that Brickfields police are involved in the disappearance of her son - taken into custody on April 14 over the alleged theft of a handphone and for using a stolen motorbike.

Her version is radically different from the official line given by Brickfields police chief Zul Hasnan Najib Baharuddin to the press.

The district chief claimed that Francis had escaped by jumping off the first floor of the district police hadquarters building as he was being taken for interrogation, and then squeezed through a hole in the fence before jumping into the Klang River, behind the police station.

A police officer has been suspended in relation to the incident. Following six days of investigation by Brickfields, Musa directed Kuala Lumpur city police to take over the case.

It is believed that the strong public interest in the matter has since prompted Bukit Aman to take responsibility for the investigation.

Limit 'unnecessary'

However, the Police Watch and Human Rights Committee - the NGO that is assisting Francis' family - claimed that Musa's decision to limit representation to one individual was "unnecessary".

Chairperson R N Rajah said this indicated that the police are not interested in getting to the bottom of the matter.

He said the family would ask for a meeting with the police commission, in addition to lodging a police report against the Inspector-General of Police Mohd Bakri Omar, his deputy, and Musa for "aiding and abetting" in Francis' death.

"The mother has lost all confidence in the police force. We hope the police commission will help us out," said Rajah.

Headed by former chief justice Mohamed Dzaiddin Abdullah, the 11-week-old commission is currently conducting a nationwide public inquiry to look into the workings and actions of the police force.