Suaram: Why no coordination between agencies for custodial death probes?
Suaram wants to know why there is little coordination between the police, the Home Ministry and the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) in the investigation of deaths in custody.
“Suaram would like to question the number of inquests conducted so far and why all death cases in custody do not have automatic inquests as stipulated in the Criminal Procedure Code...
Suaram wants to know why there is little coordination between the police, the Home Ministry and the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) in the investigation of deaths in custody.
“Suaram would like to question the number of inquests conducted so far and why all death cases in custody do not have automatic inquests as stipulated in the Criminal Procedure Code.
“The Home Ministry is indifferent in dealing with the issue of deaths in custody.
"Why is there no coordination between the police, Home Ministry and the AGC in the investigation and follow-up action on deaths in custody?” said Suaram executive director Sevan Doraisamy in a statement today.
Suaram deemed the latest custodial death case to be unacceptable, with this being the country’s eighth reported case this year.
The human rights body demanded the police to provide a follow-up report and for the autopsy findings to be made publicly available, for a transparent investigation into the matter.
“First, how can (a suspect) experience shortness of breath, less than an hour after arrest, and what are the follow-up actions after (a suspect) reports he or she has shortness of breath?
“Second, the police should provide an explanation of the detainee’s condition during and after his detention, or how he was detained. For example, did any scuffle take place during detention?” he said.
Be transparent
Sevan called on the Criminal Investigation Unit on Deaths in Detention to be transparent in dealing with the issue of deaths in custody if it is truly sincere to prevent such cases.
“More thorough information and details such as autopsy reports, and the results of investigations should be made available to the public so that police accountability and integrity are preserved,” he added.
This comes after a reported death in custody of a 39-year-old man - who died within two hours of his arrest at the Gombak district police headquarters in Selangor.
Bukit Aman Integrity and Standards Compliance Department director Azri Ahmad said the man was arrested in connection with a police investigation into a case under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
He was brought to the Gombak headquarters at 4.45pm yesterday but complained of breathing difficulties at 5.30pm and was brought to the Selayang Hospital.
According to a statement by Azri, the man, who is of Malay ethnicity, was pronounced dead at 6.30pm on Feb 14.
Read more: Custodial deaths - a regular occurrence with no end in sight
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