The kin of Mohd Izham Abdul Rahman, 39, who died of unknown causes on April 27 following his arrest by the police, have demanded that the authorities come clean on the matter.

His wife Siti Hawa Mispon Bandi, 30, said Mohd Izham had last contacted her on April 25 to inform her that he was in police custody.

The following day, Siti Hawa received a telephone call from a police personnel informing her that Mohd Izham had been taken to the Bukit Mertajam Hospital due to breathing difficulties.

When Siti Hawa arrived at the hospital, she was brought to the emergency ward to see her husband, who was unconscious.

"The police told me that my husband fainted and was found unconscious in his cell.

"They told me to sign a guarantee form, which states that when my husband is well, he must see the police," Siti Hawa told a press conference in Penang today.

The following morning, Siti Hawa again had to rush to the hospital after being informed that her husband was now in critical condition.

"While I was (waiting) in the ICU room, a male doctor told me that my husband has died and that the cause of his death was unknown," she said.

No news, a month since report lodged

She has since lodged a police report on her husband's death, but nearly a month later, there has been no development.

The Penang Taskforce on Custodial Deaths, which organised the press conference, urged the authorities to immediately conduct an inquest into Mohd Izham's death. 

"We urge the authorities to immediately convene a inquest into the case so that any suspicion as to the cause of death will be put to rest," taskforce member Jagdeep Singh Deo said.

Taskforce chairperson P Ramasamy said this was the first complaint the taskforce received this year. He also claimed that there have been five known cases nationwide this year alone.

Ramasamy said Mohd Izham's death was suspicious because the deceased had no known illnesses prior to his arrest. 

When contacted, Seberang Perai Central district police chief Nik Ros Azhan Nik Abdul Hamid said the matter was being investigated.

"We are completing the investigation papers and will submit it soon to the prosecutor's office," he said.

Nik Ros Azhan said the case was being investigated under "sudden death", and that they were waiting for a medical report from the hospital before finalising it.

Nik Ros Azhan welcomed Jagdeep's request for an inquest into Mohd Izham's death.

"We will also be requesting for an inquest," he told Malaysiakini.