Edict claims cops didn’t inform coroner on death of man in custody
Human rights NGO Eliminating Death and Abuse in Custody Together (Edict) has called on the Selangor police chief Noor Azam Jamaludin to explain why the police had not informed the coroner of the death of V Mugilarasu in the prison.
The 35-year-old man was under remand and awaiting a court hearing in August. He died in the Sungai Buloh prison last night (July 2)...
Human rights NGO Eliminating Death and Abuse in Custody Together (Edict) has called on the Selangor police chief Noor Azam Jamaludin to explain why the police had not informed the coroner of the death of V Mugilarasu in the prison.
The 35-year-old man was under remand and awaiting a court hearing in August. He died in the Sungai Buloh prison last night (July 2).
According to Edict, the police, however, only informed Mugilarasu's brother of the death last night and confirmed the identity of the deceased this morning.
"We are shocked to learn that as of 8pm today the police had not informed the Selangor state coroner of the death of Mugilarasu.
"Edict calls upon Selangor police chief Noor Azam Jamaludin to explain why the coroner has yet to be informed and whether he considers this a non-compliance with the law," the NGO said in a statement.
When contacted, Noor Azam denied the allegation, and said the remains had to be sent to hospital first for a Covid-19 test as per the Health Ministry's guidelines.
Edict reminded Noor Azam that the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) required the police to report the death immediately to the coroner.
It added that section 330 of the CPC also stated that it is common practice for coroners to view the body in-situ, while Section 334 stated that a coroner must conduct an inquest into the death.
It also urged the Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador and Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin to respond to public concern over the appalling number of deaths in custody.
"We urge them to establish a special standard operating procedure to cover deaths and abuse in custody, in lockups and in other places of detention.
"Only then will the public believe that detained persons are treated by jailers and investigators as living beings, not as inanimate objects," the statement reads.
Earlier, Malay Mail reported that the family had filed a police report over the death today and they planned to seek an inquest into the death.
Lawyers representing the family, Sheelan Arjunan and John Das said they would apply for the inquest as soon as possible.
NMLM that means Non Malay lives matter, to just refresh everybody, there is Teoh Beng Hock, there Kugan there are many more mostly non Malays and I wish to inform the IGP and the Prime minister that Non Malay lives matter. Do we need to escalate this or will the Police and the Government act? There is Pastor Koh, Pastor Helmi and his wife Ruth, there is Amri what is happening. We do not have to go the path the Americans' took on Floyd's death, but we can't turn a blind eye either if the government does nto show the courage to stamp this out.
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