Prison Dept probing death of inmate after caning

The Prison Department has initiated an internal investigation to review whether the standard operating procedures (SOPs) were followed after the death of a prisoner following the administration of a caning sentence.

To date, no SOP violations have been identified and further investigations are ongoing, the department said in a statement today.

“If an element of negligence or procedural weakness while performing duties is found, the department will not compromise and will take strict action against the responsible party,” it said.

It added that as a follow-up to the initial autopsy into the death of a prisoner in Pokok Sena Prison on Oct 7, it was verified that death was caused by a bacterial infection in the blood.

The Prison Department said that it would like to emphasise that the caning sentence carried out on Sept 25, 2024, was done following SOP and that the prisoner had also been confirmed healthy and fit after a thorough examination by the prison medical officer.

The department said after the administration of his sentence, the medical officer carefully treated the inmate, including daily wound dressing and monitoring his health from time to time.

“The prisoner complained of being unwell on Oct 4, 2024, which is nine days after the whipping was carried out.

“Following a complaint of ill health by the prisoner, the prison continued to carry out further examinations and through intensive treatment by its medical officers.

“The inmate was taken to Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital on Oct 7, 2024, for further treatment but was confirmed dead," said the department.

The department reminded the public not to spread unverified news related to the case.

Death after caning

Yesterday Malaysiakini reported that Suhakam received a report regarding the death of a man incarcerated at Pokok Sena Prison, Kedah, allegedly after the administration of a caning punishment.

According to the report sighted by Malaysiakini, the family of inmate Zaidi Abd Hamid, was informed of his death at 2am on Monday (Oct 7).

Zaidi, 49, was initially sentenced to death in 2015. However, after the abolition of the mandatory death penalty in Malaysia, his sentence was revised on Sept 10 to 33 years in prison, along with 12 strokes of the cane.

The report claimed that Zaidi began experiencing severe bleeding a week after the caning, which alarmed his family, especially given his pre-existing condition of high blood pressure.

“Zaidi’s wife requested to visit him on Oct 6 but was denied. His family was very worried about Zaidi’s condition and had asked the prison authorities to send him to the hospital for proper medical treatment.

“Unfortunately, on Oct 7 at around 9am, the family received the news about Zaidi passing on the same day,” the report stated.

Zaidi’s death certificate, also sighted by Malaysiakini, listed the cause of death as “septic sequelae to blunt force trauma to the gluteal region.”

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