R. Jamesh Ramesh(40) - Another Death in Police Custody - 27 May 2013

There are CCTV that monitors detention cells (but alas in Malaysia, the CCTV would not have had recording capabilities), and they did not know that a man in the police lock-up was dying ...dead. What time did he die?

Liver Failure, Heart failure, etc -  But the question was what caused it. Was there torture involved? Why did the police not send him to the hospital...Did he have an history of liver problems?

And really police must stop defaming the dead. Most times when a person dies in police custody, the report normally tries to give the perception that this was a bad person. But unless one is tried and convicted by the courts, that person must be presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The death is already a great loss to family and loved ones - so please Mr Policeman just tell us about the death, and stop trying to make out the victim as being a 'bad person'. In the Jamesh Ramesh case, first report says his urine tested positive and so he was arrested. What really is the basis of mentioning things like "...hardcore drug addict..."

In the 2nd report, they say that "...unemployed and had a criminal record for robbery..." - Why do the police even have to disclose this now? What criminal record? 

WHY do the police usually paint a 'bad picture' of people who die in police custody...lock-ups? It matters not whether he was a serious criminal or a saint - all that matters now is WHY did this happen?

The only question that should be occupying the mind of the police is WHY and HOW did he die in the lock-up? How come police officers monitoring the lock-up did notice him about to die, dying.....etc? How come none of the fellow detainees were unaware? What time did this man really die?

ANOTHER CUSTODIAL DEATH! Man found dead in Penang police lock-up

 
  

A man was found dead while being detained at the Penang police contingent headquarters lock-up here today.

Penang CID deputy chief ACP Nasir Mohd Salleh said R. Jamesh Ramesh, 40, was found dead at 10.30am.

He said the man, who is believed to be a hardcore drug addict, was picked up by the Timur Laut narcotic team in Jalan Patani here yesterday after his urine was tested positive for drug.

The case is classified as sudden death and the body was taken to Penang Hospital for post mortem, he added. - BERNAMA - Malaysia Chronicle, 27/5/2013, ANOTHER CUSTODIAL DEATH! Man found dead in Penang police lock-up 

GEORGE TOWN: Police have confirmed that the death of a 40-year-old detainee in the Penang police contingent headquarters lock-up yesterday was due to liver failure.

State CID deputy chief, ACP Nasir Mohd Salleh said the nature of R. Jamesh Ramesh's death was confirmed by the hospital after a post-mortem.

 

He said there were no injuries on the body and no criminal element involved.

 

"Police have also recorded statements from the deceased's cellmates and they claimed that the deceased was in a state of 'high' throughout the night," he told reporters here today.

 

Jamesh Ramesh who was unemployed and had a criminal record for robbery was arrested in front of a community hall in Jalan Patani, here, on Saturday when he was found positive for morphine in a urine test.

 

Police only realised that he was dead when they came to the lock-up at 10.30am yesterday to bring him to court for a remand order. -- BERNAMA

Read more: Penang detainee's death due to liver failure - Latest - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/latest/penang-detainee-s-death-due-to-liver-failure-1.287713#ixzz2Ug7UL5nl

• Alarm over seventh custodial death in 2013 alone
• 4:28PM May 29, 2013
• Penang Suaram has expressed alarmed over yet another case of death in police custody, which took place less than seven days after the “ghastly” death of N Dharmendran on May 21.
  
  The NGO said in Penang, suspected drug addict R Jamesh Ramesh has become yet another number in the death-in-custody statistics, adding it was concerned over the sudden rise of such deaths.
  
  It wants Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar to take responsibility for this latest death and announce to the public what action will be taken against the officers in charge of Jamesh, and when.
  
  “We expect nothing short of transparency and independence of the police and the Home Ministry in this matter,” Penang Suaram said.
  
  “In 2012, we received nine cases of deaths in police custody,” the NGO added in a statement.
  
  “Yet in less than half-a-year, six cases have already been reported, making Jamesh the seventh death in 2013 alone. These are just reported cases,” the NGO stressed.
  
  Arrested for taking drugs
  On Saturday, Jamesh, a 40-year-old jobless man, was arrested for allegedly taking drugs by Narcotics Department policemen at a community hall in Patani Road.
  
  The next day, he was sent to the lock-up around 4pm after his urine test was found to be positive for morphine.
  
  State deputy CID chief ACP Mohd Nasir Salleh said Jamesh “was seen to be in a normal condition by other detainees in the cell on the same night”.
  Jamesh was found unconscious on Sunday morning by police officers, and was later declared to have died of liver failure.
  
  Penang Suaram has urged the family members of Jamesh to come forward with information.
  
  The NGO wants police to probe all the circumstances surrounding the death of Jamesh by revealing the daily journal kept by the officer-in-charge of him during his brief detention.
  
  They urged the police to ensure that there is justice for the victim, and if there were any police officers involved in his death, they should be made responsible.
  
  Inquest into Jamesh’s death sought
  
  Penang Suaram also called for an inquest to be held into the death of Jamesh.
  
  “The Criminal Procedure Code provides that when a person dies when in the custody of the police, the officer who had custody of that person shall immediately give intimation of such death to the nearest magistrate and that the magistrate shall hold an inquiry into the cause of the death,” said the NGO.
  
  “We add our voices to those who are already calling for the home minister to hold an urgent and open enquiry to establish why so many deaths in custody are occurring,” it added.
  
  “There is widespread public concern which needs to be addressed. For as long as the police are seen to be allowed to act with impunity, they have little credibility,” it stressed.
  
  Penang Suaram said police credibility was further in question due to the speedy approach taken by the police in arresting peaceful dissenters at public rallies.
  
  The NGO was referring to four political and civil society figures who have been charged under the Sedition Act.
  
  This week alone, five political party leaders have been charged under the Peaceful Assembly Act for not complying with the terms in the Act to notify the police 10 days prior to holding a rally.- Malaysiakini, 29/5/2013, Alarm over seventh custodial death in 2013 alone
  

Dharmendran's case - Desk duties for four cops

Desk duties for four cops over Dharmendran's case

Bernama 5:47PM May 29, 2013

Four policemen including an officer who investigated a shooting case in Bandar Tun Razak, Cheras, which resulted in the death of N Dharmendran while in police custody, have been reassigned to desk duties, said city police deputy chief SAC Amar Singh Ishar Singh.

He said they had been reassigned to desk duties at the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters so as to facilitate the probe into Dharmendaran’s death by officers from Bukit Aman (Federal police headquarters).

Criminal elements were suspected in the death of Dharmendran, 32, who was detained at the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters lock-up.

On Tuesday, Dharmendran had complained of chest pains while held at the lock-up but was pronounced dead on arrival when he was brought to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital.

Yesterday, Bukit Aman director of management Mortadza Nazarene said police will be setting up a special committee headed by inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar soon to look into the welfare of suspects held in lock-ups.

Earlier, Amar Singh had handed over a Royal Malaysia Police letter of appreciation to Constable Muhalim Osop for “keeping his cool” under extreme provocation by a group protesting the detention of a student activist in front of the Jinjang police station in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.

Muhalim, 22, from  Sabah, who was on guard duty that night, was subjected to all kinds of insults from the protesters but he just went about doing his duty.

The protesters had demanded the release of student activist  Adam Adli Abdul Halim who had been detained under the Sedition Act 1948 for allegedly urging the people to topple the government ala the ‘Arab Spring’ at a forum held in the city recently.

“There was a woman among the group who claimed to be a lawyer and was pointing a finger at his (Muhalim’s) face but he handled the situation very professionally and acted wisely to calm down the protesters,” Amar Singh told reporters.

- Bernama - Malaysiakini, 29/5/2013, Desk duties for four cops over Dharmendran's case

Dharmendran - dead in police custody - classified as murder

Dharmendran - dead in police custody - classified as murder - but apparently still no police officer arrested..

"I [N Surendran] have been allowed to view Dharmendran's body with lawyer Latheefa Koya and the family members of the deceased after the pathologist had allowed us to view it at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) mortuary."

"There were physical evidence of beatings and torture to the front of his thighs, and at the back of his body, there were beating marks on his back (severe to the point that) it had swelled up.

"The ears are stapled and there are staples left intact, which could be (clearly) seen on the ears. - Death in Police Custody - N Dharmendran (21 May 2013?)

There is really no reason whatsoever to beat up suspects. As of 2007, whatever confessions or things that are told by the suspect to the police cannot be used in cases to ensure conviction of the suspects. So why beat up suspects? There has just been too many deaths in police custody.

Death In Police Custody

147 Deaths in Police Lock-Ups in 2000-2009 period

A report by Bernama is attached below but I am not sure whether it is about N Dharmendran or a different case. For more about the Dharmendra case, visit MADPET Blog or just follow this link Death in Police Custody - N Dharmendran (21 May 2013?)

Man dies after breathing difficulties at lock-up

Bernama 4:45PM May 22, 2013

A man died after complaining of breathing difficulties while being detained at the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters lock-up in Kuala Lumpur last night.

In the 9pm incident, the man had complained of chest pains before being brought to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival, said City CID chief Ku Chin Wah.

He said the 32-year-old man was one of four suspects arrested in connection with a shooting case in Bandar Tun Razak, Cheras on May 11.

“A post-mortem will be done at HKL,” he told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

In other developments, Ku said police had been given an extension on the remand till Monday on the second suspect held in connection with the murder of Customs deputy director-general (Customs/ Internal Tax) Shaharuddin Ibrahim.

He said police needed more time to wrap up investigations.

Shaharuddin was shot dead while on his way to work in Putrajaya in April 26.

- Bernama - Malaysiakini, 22/5/2013, Man dies after breathing difficulties at lock-up

Things have moved on and it has been classified as 'murder'

Autopsy done, ‘evidence points to murder’

G Lavendran | May 23, 2013

The preliminary post-mortem findings reveal that N Dharmendran died of multiple blunt force trauma.

PETALING JAYA: The preliminary post-mortem conducted at Hospital Kuala Lumpur has revealed that police detainee N Darmindran had died to severe blunt force trauma.

HKL pathologist Dr Siew Sheue Feng’s report, which was given to the deceased’s family last night, ruled out heart attack or asthma as the cause of death as claimed by the police.

Darmindran, 32, an Indah Water employee, had been in police detention since May 11.

Lawyer G Sivamalar, who accompanied the family to retrieve the post-mortem report, said that the pathologist had struck out all natural causes.

“So far, the evidence points to murder, at least that would be a fair claim.

“Now it’s all up to the investigating officer at Dang Wangi police station ASP Kamarul Rizal to give the final verdict,” she said.

“The police can’t use the excuse that the injuries were caused during the fight Darmindran was involved in on May 11 as the pathologist confirmed that the injuries were ‘fresh’,” she added.

After speaking to the pathologist, Sivamalar also said that Darmindran’s back and buttocks were also severely injured along with another two staples found on his legs.

“The pathologist said that that his back and buttocks were severely injured, also his thighs and legs were badly swollen due to injuries,” said Sivamalar.

“On top of that, they found another two staples – one on each ankle. Four staples were found on the body of the deceased, including the two on his ears,” she added.

Mock funeral at IPK KL

Sivamalar said that the family was willing to fight till the end in order to seek justice for Darmindran.

“The family is staying strong, they want the police to be honest and for once provide justice for the people,” she said.

“They want Darmindran’s case to be the last of its kind and hoped that police brutality would cease for good,” she added.

The family’s lawyers, who include PKR MP for Padang Serai, N Surendran and PKR lawyer Latheefa Koya would discuss further with the family of Darmindran on their next plan of action.

The funeral would be held today at Darmindran’s residence in Taman Mulia, Bandar Tun Razak in Cheras.

The family would also be holding a mock funeral outside the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters, where the deceased was detained.

Following the post-mortem report, the police have reclassified the probe as a murder investigation. - FMT News, 23/5/2013, Autopsy done, ‘evidence points to murder’

 

Sunday May 26, 2013

Leave no stone unturned in latest death in lock-up case

The Star Says

THE new IGP surely isn't having it easy. Just days into his appointment, Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar has had his hands full dealing with Opposition rallies, arrests of people for sedition and cracking down on gun violence.

But perhaps the most difficult and sensitive matter before him is the death of yet another police detainee.

Although police initially said N. Dharmendran died from “breathing difficulties”, a post-mortem revealed he died from “multiple blunt force trauma”. Bluntly put, he was most likely beaten to death and the case has swiftly been reclassified as murder.

City police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Mohmad Salleh also announced the setting up of a task force to investigate.

So far, the police have responded to this new crisis quite well. Perhaps they have learned from the public relations nightmare involving the 2009 death of A. Kugan in the Subang Jaya police station.

In that case, public anger was fanned by conflicting reports from two post-mortems on the cause of death of the suspected car thief. But photos of Kugan's body with incriminating wounds and bruises went viral, leading to widespread belief of police brutality. Eventually, police constable V. Navindran was charged and convicted of causing hurt to Kugan.

Navindran subsequently claimed he was made the scapegoat. Through the whole messy case, the police image took a severe beating as accusations of cover-up and brutality and torture being commonplace in lock-ups swirled.

Kugan's death at the hands of the police remains an angry, sore point with the public, especially the Indian community. If Dharmendran's death is not handled properly and satisfactorily, it could explode with similarly nasty consequences.

Dharmendran, 32, was detained on May 12 along with three others after they were suspected to have been involved in a shooting case in Bandar Tun Razak two weeks earlier.

DCP Mohamad, while saying Dharmendran might have been murdered while in custody at the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters, declined to elaborate on the nature of the deceased's injuries.

He also urged the public not to speculate and to allow the police time to conduct a full investigation.

The problem is people will speculate as long as police continue to withhold information like the deceased's injuries. It has already been widely reported that there were signs of bruises and staple marks on his body.

Granted, the police have promised to investigate, but it is perhaps better for an independent body to do so. This will give the public confidence that there is transparency and no cover-up.

What Khalid must also do immediately is to review the protocol on how detainees are interrogated and treated. Again, how this is conducted will also affect public perception of the force.

It may also be timely for him to consider supporting the implementation of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission as proposed by the royal commission of inquiry in the police in 2007.

A young father has been murdered. His family and the public are demanding answers. No stone must be left unturned, even if it means revealing ugly truths, so that Dharmendran's murderers can be brought to justice and safeguards are in place to prevent custody deaths from happening again.- Star, 26/5/2013, Leave no stone unturned in latest death in lock-up case

But, I believe, still no police officer has been arrested.....only saw reports about the wife being called in for investigations...Tell us how many witnesses have been investigated. What has happened to the suspected police personnel? Have they been suspended at the very least? 

Now, if the victim was tortured to death by the police, then we hope that criminal action [not some disciplinary action] be taken against all the police officers involved in physically torturing the victim, all police officers that 'knew about it' and did nothing - for they should also be punished as 'accomplices'.

The Officer in Charge of the said police station, if he is a person of honour, should immediately tender his resignation for his gross failings as OIC that has resulted in the torture and 'murder' of a suspect...What do you think?

Have the Prime Minister, the Home Minister and/or the IGP visited the family of Dharmendran to extend at the very least their condolence - for after all the death happened in the custody of the police...or they have just not bothered. 

The SUHAKAM also cannot act - because there are no Human Rights Commissioners since April 25th...that is if one is wondering why SUHAKAM has not made a statement with regard this case.... 

Death in Police Custody - N Dharmendran (21 May 2013?)

Worst custodial death case since Kugan, says Surendran

Hafiz Yatim 2:31PM May 22, 2013

The latest case of custodial death, that of N Dharmendran, is the worst that lawyer and newly-elected lawmaker N Surendran has seen since the death of A Kugan in 2009.

Surendran (left) - who has been appointed as lawyer for the family - said both Dharmendran's ears were stapled, and that there had been severe marks of having been hit by the authorities on his thighs and back.

"I have been allowed to view Dharmendran's body with lawyer Latheefa Koya and the family members of the deceased after the pathologist had allowed us to view it at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) mortuary."

"There were physical evidence of beatings and torture to the front of his thighs, and at the back of his body, there were beating marks on his back (severe to the point that) it had swelled up.

"The ears are stapled and there are staples left intact, which could be (clearly) seen on the ears.

"This is the worst case that I have seen since Kugan,” said Surendran, who is the newly-elected Padang Serai MP.

Surendran noted that the pathologist will be conducting a post-mortem at about 2pm, and that the results or initial findings would be obtained later.

Dharmendran, 31, was picked up by police on May 11 after he lodged a police report at the Pudu police station when he had been involved in a fight. He has been in remand since that day at the Kuala Lumpur police contingent headquarters.

His parents and wife had not been told of Dharmendran's (left) arrest and were only informed of the matter on Sunday and managed to see him at the police lock-up on the same day. The victim is also known to have asthma.

The victim was supposed to be released on bail yesterday, and the police had waited in court.

However, his wife received a call from the police, who informed her that her husband had passed away and asked her to identify the body at the HKL.

They went there, but were not allowed to view Dharmendran's body until just now.

Earlier details showed that the post-mortem will be performed by Dr Siew Sheue Feng, a HKL pathologist who had also performed checks on alleged sodomy victim Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

Kugan, 23, from Puchong - and who worked part-time as a tow truck operator - died at the Taipan police station after he was arrested over a spate of thefts of alleged luxury cars in the area. The Kugan case is the subject of an ongoing legal suit by the family against the police and the government.
'Suspend police officers involved'
Following this, Surendran has called on the police to suspend those who had interrogated Dharmendran.

He then urged newly-appointed inspector-general of police (IGP) Khalid Abu Bakar to form an independent investigation team to investigate the death of Dharmendran.
"The investigation should be done by others who are not from the Kuala Lumpur police contingent headquarters to ensure that there is transparency and independence," he stressed.

In addition, Surendran also called on new Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (right) to step in as well to guarentee that action will be taken on those responsible.

"The new home minister, besides the new IGP, should ensure the transparency and independence in the police probe into the matter. The authorities should also review their policies of torturing people like in the Kugan case and in Dharmendran's case, as the physical evidence shows," he said.

Surendran added that he - along with the family members of Dharmendran - will be awaiting for the post-mortem, which is expected to be completed later this evening.- Malaysiakini, 22/5/2013, Worst custodial death case since Kugan, says Surendran