Bar wants external checks on all custodial deaths
The Malaysian Bar has called for an independent organisation to be set up to investigate all deaths in custody after a coroner’s court recently found police negligence to be the cause of a detainee's death in 2018.
“It is our view that external civilian oversight systems will be able to complement and enhance the existing mechanisms and create accountability for detention authorities.
“The Malaysian Bar applauds the coroner’s decision but also calls on the government to...
The Malaysian Bar has called for an independent organisation to be set up to investigate all deaths in custody after a coroner’s court recently found police negligence to be the cause of a detainee's death in 2018.
“It is our view that external civilian oversight systems will be able to complement and enhance the existing mechanisms and create accountability for detention authorities.
“The Malaysian Bar applauds the coroner’s decision but also calls on the government to consider establishing custodial medical units at detention centres throughout the country.
“When a person is brought to legally sanctioned custody, the law imposes a duty on the custodial officer to ensure the health and safety of the person in custody,” said Malaysian Bar president Salim Bashir in a statement today.
He also urged detention authorities to ensure that medical treatment is available for all suspects and to ensure proper sanitation and basic amenities are accessible.
Salim was referring to the death of Thanabalan Subramaniam, 38, on Apr 17, 2018, who was detained at the Shah Alam central lock-up facility.
According to media reports at the time, he was found unconscious that day following four days of fever, stomach ache, diarrhoea, and lack of appetite.
He was brought to Shah Alam Hospital after he was found unconscious, where he was declared dead.
Yesterday, Free Malaysia Today reported that the Shah Alam coroner Rofiah Mohamad had found police negligence to be the cause of Thanabalan’s death.
The report quoted lawyer M Visvanathan saying that Rofiah had noted that forensics investigations found Thanabalan had myocardial bridging – a heart condition that normally wouldn’t kill anyone on its own.
However, Thanabalan had also come down with leptospirosis as a result of being exposed to rat urine, which caused his health to deteriorate due to his heart condition.
“Police, knowing that this man was unwell, refused to send him to hospital for two days,” Visvanathan was quoted as saying.
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