The family of missing detainee G Francis Udayapan, who is feared dead, today welcomed the decision by the special commission on the police to investigate the matter.

"The family feels to a certain extent that they have been vindicated because the authorities are finally paying attention to their plight," said their lawyer N Surendran.

He was responding to a New Straits Times report on Saturday that the commission has launched a probe into the case as 'there have been many gaps in the police investigation'.

The commission was reported to have tasked this duty to a special committee, headed by former inspector-general of police Hanif Omar. Hanif also sits on the 16-member special commission.

The news report, quoting sources, claimed that several police officers were defensive when queried by the committee.

DNA test

According to the police, Francis had escaped from the Brickfields police headquarters on April 16 by jumping into a nearby river.

However, the family of the 24-year-old VCD seller, who was arrested in connection with a petty theft case disputed this. They alleged that the police could have fatally assaulted him and dumped his body into the river.

Subsequently, the matter was probed by the federal police headquarters and foul play was ruled out .

Thirty-seven days after Francis' alleged escape, the highly decomposed remains of a man was found in the Klang river on May 23.

His mother G Sara Lily identified the remains as that of her son based on tattoos and a tooth deformity. Despite this, the police insisted on a DNA test and the body remains at the University Malaya Medical Centre (UUMC) morgue.

Senior cops responsible

Meanwhile, Surendran said senior police officers should be held accountable over the 'gaps in the investigation' as stated by the commission.

"We hold both Federal CID chief Musa Hassan and city CID chief Aziz Bulat responsible for this miscarriage of justice," he added.

Contacted later, commission secretary Hamzah Md Rus said the decision to appoint a commissioner to look into Francis' death was reached at a meeting on June 10.

"This was prompted by several requests by lawyers, families and the non-governmental organisations to look into this matter," he added.

However, he refused to confirm whether Hanif is heading the investigation but added that this 'particular' commissioner was in the process of collecting information.