Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) today found out that S Balamurugan died in the rest room and not in the lock-up of the North Klang district police headquarters (IPD).

Commissioner Mah Weng Kwai Mah said the police had breached the standard operating procedure (SOP) when they did not send Balamurugan to a lock-up after 6pm.

"In this case here in North Klang IPD, there is no lock-up for the detainees, so after 6pm, they (detainees) have to be sent to Shah Alam (IPD) lock-up. But that day Balamurugan was not sent to (Shah Alam IPD) lock-up.

"What we found out is that he was in the rest room (bilik rehat) until 11pm and then he was discovered to have passed away," Mah told a press conference after his visit to the North Klang IPD.

"I think there was a mention of him being arrested for other offences, so that may be the reasons why he was not sent to lock-up, but we need to get to the truth."

He said Suhakam also visited the rest room and found out that it did not have any closed-circuit television (CCTV).

Why no medical treatment?

Mah said the second issue which must be addressed was why the police did not send Balamurugan to hospital despite the magistrate's order to do so.

"He (Balamurugan) was not sent to seek medical treatment although quite obviously he was not well and there was an order from the magistrate," he said.

Mah said that Suhakam will return to North Klang IPD soon to take statements from police officers who were involved.

Balamurugan, 44, was confirmed dead at 6am on Wednesday, three days after he was detained.

He was arrested on Monday after he was found in the same car with two other men, one of whom was wanted by the police for a robbery.

Balamurugan's family had lodged a police report yesterday, urging for a second post-mortem and for an immediate investigation to be launched into his death.