The family of Cheong Fook Meng wants answers about his death after the project manager had gone out to have a late supper at Jalan Imbi on July 4, and they later received a call in the early morning announcing that he was dead.

In the latest death in custody case, the 53-year-old Cheong, who is also an active Rela member, was said to have been involved in an altercation at the restaurant.

NONE According to his daughter Doris Cheong Mei Yeng, 31 ( right ), eyewitness saw four policemen come to the restaurant, and one kicked her father’s leg and brought him down.

“Then another policeman handcuffed him and one of them sat on him for about 30 minutes,” she said.

“Witnesses said they saw foam coming out of his mouth, and he was later brought to Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL) and pronounced dead,” she said.

Doris and younger brother Simon, who are children from their father’s first marriage, want answers about how he died.

Their stepmother Julia Kwa Siew Woo, 46, said she received a surprise call at about 1.43am on July 4 from HKL asking her to help identify a body.

“I alerted Doris and Simon and went to HKL at about 2.30am and was surprised to find Cheong has already died,” she said.

“We want answers about the manner that he died,” she said, adding that her husband has diabetes but it was under control.

Running red light or accident?

Simon, 28, said there is also uncertainty about his father’s alleged offence.

NONE “There are reports saying he had driven through a red light and there is another saying he had met with an accident,” Simon ( left ) said, adding that he and Doris went to the scene after going to HKL that morning.

“However, when we went to the scene and checked on his car there were no markings suggesting that there had been an accident. We also heard that the authorities tried to take the car but failed. My father is not dangerous and does not possess any criminal record. Why have the police subjected him to such treatment?”

The police, Simon said, have to be truthful to the family as to what actually happened.

NONE Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo ( left ) said there are questions about the manner of the police action namely after Cheong had been handcuffed and subdued, he was considered to be under the care of the police.

He noted there are reports of a policeman sitting on Cheong’s back.

“I question the move as Cheong had already been handcuffed and there was no purpose to sit on his back as alleged,” said the Puchong MP.

Gobind said the family members are interested in finding out how Cheong died and the police should be responsible to relate how it actually happened.

He said the family had also gathered evidence from witnesses and is willing to assist the police probe.

“I will bring this matter up with Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in parliament today,” Gobind said, adding that the family is also considering filing a suit against the police and government.

Also present at the press conference was Kinrara assemblyperson Ng Sze Han.

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