Wife of T Benedict, 44, who died while in police custody yesterday, believes that her husband's death was due to police negligence.

Admitting that her late husband had several health issues, N Janagi, 40, however, said that police had been informed of his condition, too.

"I don't blame the police but they know his condition so why were they careless?

"I suspect that his medications were not administered properly. My husband told me that he was placed in a cell alone.

"If there was someone with him, the police could have been informed if he was sick," she told reporters outside her home in Jinjang Utara today.

Janagi, who appeared calm, had just returned from her husband's funeral.

Benedict was detained under the Dangerous Drugs (Special Preventive Measures) Act on June 29.

Janagi said police had asked for her husband's medications the day after. Benedict had to consume eight types of medicines for his heart and diabetes problems and was supposed to be administered with four insulin shots per day.

She last met Benedict on July 3 and was told by her husband that his health was fine and that he was given his medications.

Benedict on Friday, however, complained to her of feeling feverish since the night before. She promised him that she would meet him on Monday.

He was however found unconscious on Monday morning at the Jinjang police detention centre before he was sent to Hospital Kuala Lumpur.

Janagi said she was informed that he had passed away after she and her family arrived at the hospital at around 10am.

Although the real cause of death has yet to be determined, the police were reminded that they are responsible for the health of detainees while they are under detention.

Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) executive director D Sevan in a press conference earlier, cited the case of lorry driver P Chandran who died while in detention at the Dang Wangi police station in 2012, in saying so.

The High Court, last year, had ruled that the police and government had acted negligently in not sending Chandran to the hospital and had breached their duty to take care of him.

President of Persatuan Masyarakat Selangor dan Wilayah Persekutuan (Permas) M Arumugam, who claimed to have known Benedict for 25 years, confirmed that the latter had heart problems and had undergone a bypass surgery in 2006.

The lawyer contacted by Suaram to assist the family, Nandakumar S Heridas told reporters that preliminary finding of the cause of Benedict's death was an acute myocardial infection due to coronary bypass graft disease.

Results of the post-mortem, however, will only be available three months from now.

Like Sevan, citing Chandran's death, Nandakumar pointed out that the court had mentioned that the duty to provide necessary health provisions lies with the detaining authority.

"Their duty is to make sure all medical assistance are given. There's a legal provision to say that."

In the meantime, Nandakumar expressed hope that a complete investigation will be conducted to find out what happened in the lock-up which had led to Benedict's death.

"An investigation will bring closure to the family and will get to the bottom of it."

Meanwhile, Arumugam said Benedict was left jobless after the bypass surgery in 2006. His wife is also jobless and Benedict's 19-year-old daughter works at a factory to support the family.

Apart from his wife, Benedict also left behind his five children, the youngest a one-year-old daughter.

'IGP should resign'

Sevan, meanwhile, during the press conference also called for the resignation of inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar for his "poor track record" in handling death in custody cases.

"The police officers responsible for the well-being of the detainee must also be suspended pending investigations and the officer in charge of the lock-up must be investigated, too.

"But this has never been done," he lamented.

A parliamentary reply revealed that there were 15 deaths in police custody in 2016.

The Home Ministry also stated that between 2000 and 2016, there were 284 deaths in police custody. This does not include deaths which occurred when prisoners were in transit.