For
immediate release
10 June 2014
Eight deaths in police custody in less
than six months – Urgent need for police reform
Suaram condemns the police for the failure to prevent the latest two
cases of death in police custody that took place in Penang and Kuantan despite
public outcry on the rising cases of death in police custody.
The latest victims were Agin Raj, who was detained by Bandar Perda
police station on 2 June prior to his death in Bukit Mertajam Hospital on 7
June, and Koh Kheng Soon, who was arrested and detained at Kuantan police
station on 5 June and was found dead the next day in the police station on 6
June.
The police claimed that Agin Raj died of lack of oxygen to the brain
resulting in breathing difficulties while and the same claim of breathing
difficulties was made on the case of Koh Kheng Soon by the police.
Suaram is however alarmed that the sister of Agin Raj spotted injuries
on the body and legs of his brother, to which the police suggested that these
may have been sustained prior to his arrest. It is even more suspicious in the
case of Koh Kheng Soon, who died after just spending a night in Kuantan police
station and the family has alleged cover-up of his death by the police.
Suaram calls on inquest by the coroner’s court to be immediately
conducted on both cases to determine the actual cause of deaths and the
responsibilities of the police officers involved.
These two cases added to the alarming statistic of death in police
custody rising to a total of eight cases even before we have even ended the
first half of the year, compared to 12 cases in total in 2013. This makes the
ratio of 1.3 deaths in police custody every month in 2014.
Below are the names of suspects who died in police custody for the year
2014:
|
No.
|
Date
|
Name
|
Age
|
Location
|
|
1
|
10 Feb 2014
|
A. Punniyanathan
|
40
|
Nibong Tebal Police Station, Penang
|
|
2
|
18 Feb 2014
|
J. Kulanthangam
|
34
|
Dang Wangi Police Station, Kuala Lumpur
|
|
3
|
1 Mac 2014
|
Ramasamy Nagu
|
50
|
Bayan Baru Police Station, Penang
|
|
4
|
13 April 2014
|
Murugan Muniandy
|
37
|
IPD Seberang Perai Tengah, Penang
|
|
5
|
16 April 2014
|
Morgan Arjunan
|
48
|
Jinjang Police Station, Kuala Lumpur
|
|
6
|
27 April 2014
|
Rahamat Md Noor
|
56
|
Bayan Baru Police Station, Penang
|
|
7
|
7 Jun 2014
|
Naidu Agin Raj
|
29
|
Bukit Mertajam Hospital and was held by Bandar Perda Police
Station, Penang prior to the admission into hospital
|
|
8
|
7 Jun 2014
|
Kor Kheng Soon
|
43
|
Kuantan Police Station, Pahang
|
Police station, a place considered to be safe looks opposite in reality.
The pertinent question remains, why do the suspects have to lose their lives
after being detained and even before proven that they are guilty as charged? Why
a detainee could die in police station for just spending a night in police lock-up?
The possibilities of death after arrest can be attributed to two
possibilities, one, poor screening and assessment of health condition of
suspects detained; and two, torture or abuse by the police towards suspects
during investigations.
An officer who fails to provide the necessary medical attention to a suspect
is a clear sign of negligence. This negligence leads to death. It is even a
greater crime when a suspect is tortured and subjected to cruel and inhumane
treatment to coerce confession. Such torture and cruel treatment, leads to
injuries, and at times, death.
Every
individual’s right to life is guaranteed under the Federal
Constitution. Article 5 provides that “…No
person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty save in accordance with
the law…” Similarly, Article 3 of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights provides that “…Everyone
has the right to life, to be free and to feel safe…”
It is high time for the government to address the root-causes of
recurring death in custody cases. The government must address the rootcauses of
death in custody and step up the medical check-up system and services in all
police stations and legislate anti-torture law to prevent such incidents from
happening again.
More importantly, there must be no impunity for police officer who have
neglected their duties or committed acts of torture. They should be held
accountable and brought to justice. The Independent Police Complaint and
Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) is needed more than ever to investigate public
complaints against police officers who abused their power and restore the
credibility and accountability of the police force.
SUARAM demands an immediate end to these serious human rights
violations. The failure to ensure effective mechanisms to hold the Malaysian
police accountable highlight a serious lack of political will by the government
to take genuine steps to reform the police force in this country.
Released by,
Theva Rajan
Coordinator
For inquiry, please contact Mr. Theva Rajan at +60 13 3845740 or email
at righttojustice@suaram.net.
