The magistrate’s court in Penang has fixed March 8 to decide on preliminary issues relating to the inquest into the death-in-custody of Cheah Chin Lee.

NONE Magistrate Siti Salwa Ja'afar set the date this morning, according to M Visvanathan ( standing on the left) , who is representing Cheah’s family.

Visvanathan  also filed an application under Section 51A of the Criminal Procedure Code for a copy of all documents that the police have in hand.

"However, the (prosecution) said it needs time to refer this to their bosses," Visvanathan told reporters outside the court this morning.

The documents include the toxicology and pathologist’s reports, and the CCTV enhancement footage of the Tanjung Tokong police station lock-up where Cheah was found dead .

"An inquest is not a trial but to find out what happened on the day (Cheah) died. If they play hardball, we will take it up to High Court. Normally, in cases like this, even hearsay evidence is accepted," Visvanathan said.

He said he had informed the court that this was a routine matter and that the Attorney-General’s Chambers would usually have no problem with it.

“I also asked for leave to cross-examine witnesses, including representatives of the family.”

Visvanathan said DPPs Mohd Faisal Md Noor and Edward Chan even wanted to know what questions he would ask.

azlan Cheah was picked up by police about midnight on Aug 13 last year on suspicion of motorcycle theft.

He was held at the Tanjung Tokong police station before being taken to the district police headquarters on Jalan Pattani for a urine test.

At 5am, he was returned to the Tanjung Tokong station, but was found dead 20 minutes later, hanging from the window grill in the lock-up cell.  

His family has been pressuring the police for some six months to initiate judicial proceedings.

George Town OCPD Gan Kong Meng had promised an inquest, adding that a thorough probe would be carried out.

The family also sought the help of Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and the DAP to speed up the process.

They also submitted a memorandum to human rights commissioner Muhammad Sha'ani Abdullah.