23 deaths in immigration detention between Jan-June, 3 in police lockup
Twenty-three deaths were reported in immigration detention centres between January and June this year, including two children, said the Home Ministry.
Meanwhile, three people died in police lockup, and 188 deaths were reported in prisons during that same period.
In a written reply yesterday, the Home Ministry said of the immigration deaths, 18 were adult men, three were women, and two were...
Twenty-three deaths were reported in immigration detention centres between January and June this year, including two children, said the Home Ministry.
Meanwhile, three people died in police lockup, and 188 deaths were reported in prisons during that same period.
In a written reply yesterday, the Home Ministry said of the immigration deaths, 18 were adult men, three were women, and two were children.
Previously the ministry had reported that two other children had also died in immigration detention between 2018 and January this year.
Of the deaths between January and June this year, 10 were Indonesians, Bangladeshi (2), Cambodian (2), Kenyan (2), Myanmarese (1), Nepali (1), Pakistani (1), Vietnamese (1), and Canadian (1).
The nationalities of two other deaths were not stated.
It is unclear if these statistics include a stranded tourist from India who died from Covid-19 while under immigration detention.
Five of the 23 deaths occurred at the Semenyih immigration depot, three each in Langkap, Lenggeng, and Pekan Nenas, two each in Juru, KLIA, and Bukit Jalil, and one each in Ajil, and Machap Umboo.
The cause of death was not stated.
Previously, it was reported that between 2016 and September 2019, 151 people died in immigration detention centres. This is an average of 3.3 deaths per month.
By comparison, the January to June 2020 deaths were at a rate of 3.8 fatalities per month.
The Home Ministry said the Immigration Department has taken steps to place 14 assistant medical officers in its depots nationwide, identified nearby clinic, and will carry out periodic health observations.
Meanwhile, of the deaths in police lockup during Jan-June period, there was one Malay man who died in Kelantan, and one Chinese man in Sarawak, while one Nepali national died in Kuala Lumpur.
As for the deaths in prison in the same period, 109 were Malays, 25 Indians, 20 Chinese, and four of other races.
