MADPET is for the Abolition of Death Penalty, an end of torture and abuse of rights by the police, an end to death in custody, an end to police shoot to kill incidents, for greater safeguards to ensure a fair trial, for a right to one phone call and immediate access to a lawyer upon arrest, for the repeal of all laws that allow for detention without trial and an immediate release of all those who are under such draconian laws.
LETTER
| A review of body camera and CCTV footage would help prove the
police's innocence in the murder/killing of Muhammad Afis Ahmad.
At
12.30am on Jan 28, Afis was found unconscious in the lockup of the Yan
police headquarters in Kedah. He was then sent to the Yan Hospital. At
1.10am, fourty minutes later, he was pronounced dead.
He
was arrested on Jan 27 under Section 379 and 170 of the Penal Code in
connection with theft and impersonating a police officer.
Died due to blunt force trauma to the head
A post-mortem conducted the following day revealed that Afis had died due to blunt force trauma to the head.
In a report,
Kedah police chief Hasanuddin Hassan said "during his arrest, the
deceased put up a struggle which caused him to suffer injuries to the
face, ear, and forehead."
Investigation not simply to clear police of wrongdoings
The
police chief said the investigation was to determine whether there were
elements of violence, negligence, or misconduct by police personnel as
well as the possibility of injury during the arrest. Statements have
been taken from 47 people.
Malaysians Against Death
Penalty and Torture (Madpet) is of the opinion that a murder
investigation ought to be conducted, noting that the cause of death was
blunt force trauma to the head. If someone struck his head, and that
ultimately caused the death, then the person could still be charged for
murder or a related killing offence.
It must be pointed out, there
is a possibility the blunt force trauma on the head that killed could
have also been caused by some other parties - not the police. So,
narrowly investigating only to ensure no police wrongdoing is just not
right.
As such, it is essential that it be a murder or killing
crime investigation under the penal code. If it was a police officer who
caused it, then ensure that the perpetrator is charged in court just
like everyone else, and not simply dealt with quietly through some
internal disciplinary action.
There is the possibility of
another crime, being section 304A of the penal code, for not getting a
prompt inspection of the deceased by a medical professional - causing
death by negligence.
All arrested who are injured or sick must be given medical exam
After
his arrest, there were obvious injuries to the head of Afis, and a
relevant question was whether he was taken to the hospital for treatment
and checkup, or examined by a doctor. If this was done, there is a
possibility that he may still be alive today.
Immediate medical
examination soon after an arrest will also prevent unfounded accusations
of police violence post-arrest or whilst in police custody.
Investigations must be done by independent coroner, not police
In
cases of death in police custody or death caused by police shooting, it
is best that the investigations be conducted by the coroner or some
other independent body.
The police investigating their fellow
police officers, more so within the same police district or station, may
lead to improper investigation and may not lead to justice.
We
note that some earlier inquiries by the Enforcement Agency Integrity
Commission (EAIC) into deaths in police custody has found police
involvement in covering up the truth, including destroying and/or
tampering with evidence.
In the case of Syed Mohd Azlan Syed Mohamed Nur, for example, it was reported
that "the use of physical violence by police during arrest and
questioning was the cause of Syed Mohd Azlan Syed Mohamed Nur’s 2014
death in custody... The EAIC, in that inquiry, also said 'its
investigations found attempts to obscure evidence from the 25-year-old's
interrogation'."
As such, as soon as a death happens in police
custody or where police are suspected, the coroner, being usually a
magistrate, who is not a police officer should lead the inquiry and/or
investigation to reveal the truth and ensure that justice is done.
Alternatively, it could be a Deputy Public Prosecutor or the EAIC.
Body cameras and CCTVs long overdue
In
September 2019, the then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the
government was looking at equipping selected enforcement personnel with
body cameras as part of its efforts to combat corruption and other
alleged abuses of power.
In November 2020, in Parliament, the Home Minister of the current government, Hamzah Zainudin said the government will implement
the proposal on the use of body cameras by police officers, amongst
others to prevent the accusation and imputation brought against the
security personnel while performing their duties.
In December, the Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador said the police were in the process of acquiring body-worn cameras (BWC) to be used by officers, and also equipping all police cars with cameras.
If
the body-cams, vehicle cameras, and CCTV with recording capacity are
still not there, Madpet urges that it be made a priority, as this will
certainly deter police from breaking the law or violating the rights of
others.
Some Malaysian lock-ups do have CCTV, but alas when the
recordings are needed as evidence for inquests, it is revealed that
these CCTVs do not have recording capacity, or that they were not
working at the time.
What is needed is CCTV, body cams, and
cameras on police vehicles that have recording capacity, where the
recording is stored safely to prevent tampering or deletion by any
police officer or station.
In some jurisdictions like Hong Kong,
for the last few decades, CCTV recordings are there from the point of
arrest and throughout the suspect’s stay in police facilities, and
lawyers of suspects are given CDs of these recordings on request.
Such
good practice ensures there is no abuse or wrongdoing on the part of
the police, that the law is complied with, and that the arrested are not
denied any of their rights.
Malaysia yearns for a more
trustworthy police force to restore and/or enhance public confidence in
our police and the administration of criminal justice in Malaysia. We
need police officers who will not hesitate to report, investigate, or
even charge a fellow police officer if he/she commits a crime.
CHARLES HECTOR represents Malaysians Against Death Penalty & Torture (Madpet). - Malaysiakini, 6/2/2021
Independent
Investigation using also CCTV recordings for Death in Police Custody cases
Muhammad Afis Ahmad - Did Police cause blunt force trauma that caused his
death?
A review of body-cam and CCTV
footages would help proving the police’s innocence in the murder/killing of Muhammad
Afis Ahmad.
At 12.30 am on January 28, Muhamad
Afis was found unconscious in the lockup of Yan Police headquarters and was
sent to the Yan Hospital. At 1.10 am on the same day, he was pronounced dead.(Sun
Daily, 4/2/2021).
He was arrested on January 27
under Section 379 and 170 of the Penal Code in connection with theft and
impersonating as a policeman.
Died Due To Blunt Force Trauma To The Head
A post-mortem conducted the
following day revealed that Muhammad Afis had died due to blunt force trauma to
the head.
Kedah Police chief Datuk
Hasanuddin Hassan ‘…said during the arrest, the deceased had put up a struggle
which caused him to suffer injuries to the face, ear and forehead…’(BERNAMA
report)
Murder Investigation Not Simply Investigation To Clear Police Of Wrongdoings
The police chief ‘…said the
investigation was to determine whether there were elements of violence,
negligence or misconduct by police personnel as well as possibility of injury
during the arrest.’ Statements of about 47 persons have already been recorded.
MADPET (Malaysians Against Death
Penalty) is of the opinion that a murder investigation ought to be conducted,
noting that the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head. If someone
struck his head, and that ultimately caused the death, then the said person
could still be charged for murder or some killing offence.
It must be pointed out that there
is a possibility that the blunt force trauma on the head that killed could have
also been caused by some other – not the police. So, narrowly investigating
only to ensure no police wrongdoing is just not right.
As such, it is essential that it
be a murder or killing crime investigation under the Penal Code. If it was a
police officer who caused it, then ensure that the perpetrator is charged in
court just like every one else, and not simply dealt with quietly through some
internal disciplinary action.
For not getting the deceased
speedily inspected by a medical professional, the possibility of another crime,
being section 304A Penal Code - causing death by negligence.
All Arrested Who Are Injured Or Sick Must Be Given Immediate Medical
Examination
After arrest, there were obvious injuries
to the head of Muhammad Afis, and a relevant question was whether he was taken
to the hospital for treatment and checkup, or examined by a doctor. If this was
done, there is a possibility that Muhammad Afis may still be alive today.
Immediate medical examination
soon after arrest will also prevent unfounded accusations of police violence
post arrest or whilst in police custody.
When Police Are Possible Suspects, Investigations Must Be Done By
Independent Coroner – Not The Police
In cases of death in police
custody or death caused by police shooting, it is best that the investigations
be conducted by the Coroner or some other independent body.
Police investigating their fellow
police officer/s, more so within the same police district or station may lead
to improper investigation and may not lead to justice.
We note that some earlier Enforcement
Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) inquiries into deaths in police custody has
found police involvement in covering up the truth, including destroying and/or
tampering with evidence.
In the case of Syed Mohd Azlan
Syed Mohamed Nur, for example, it was reported that, ‘…The use of physical violence by
police during arrest and questioning was the cause of Syed Mohd Azlan Syed
Mohamed Nur’s 2014 death in custody, the Enforcement Agency Integrity
Commission (EAIC) said today….“There was an element of crime in the attacks
involving common intent or abetment by PDRM officers, including the arresting
team, to intentionally use physical violence on the deceased to cause death or
injury,” the EAIC said in a statement today.
The EAIC, in that inquiry, also
said that, ‘...its investigations also found attempts to obscure evidence from the
25-year-old’s interrogation that resulted in 61 separate injuries on
various parts of his body...’(Malay Mail,30/10/2015)
As such, as soon as a death
happens in police custody or where police are suspected, the Coroner, being
usually a Magistrate, who is not a police officer should lead the inquiry
and/or investigation to reveal the truth, and ensure that justice be done. Alternatively, it could be a Deputy Public
Prosecutor or the EAIC.
Body-Worn Cams And CCTV Which Records Long Overdue
In September 2019, the then prime
minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the government was looking at equipping
selected enforcement personnel with body cameras as part of its efforts to
combat corruption and other alleged abuses of power.
In November 2020, in Parliament, Home
Minister of the current government, Hamzah Zainuddin said the government will
implement the proposal on the use of body cameras by police officers, amongst
others to prevent the accusation and imputation brought against the security
personnel while performing their duties.(Malaysiakini, 19/11/2020)
In December, the Inspector-General
of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador said that the police were in the process of
acquiring body-worn cameras (BWC) to be used by officers, and also equipping all
police cars with cameras.(Malay Mail, 14/12/2020).
If the body-cams, vehicle cameras
and CCTV with recording capacity are still not there, MADPET urges that it be
made a PRIORITY, as this will certainly deter police from breaking the law or
violating rights of others.
Some Malaysian lock-ups do have
CCTV, but alas when the recordings are needed as evidence for inquests, it is
revealed that these CCTVs do not have recording capacity, or that they were not
working at the time.
What is needed are CCTV, body
cams and cameras on police vehicles that have recording capacity, where the
recording is stored safely to prevent tampering or deletion by any police
officer or station.
In some jurisdictions like Hong
Kong, for the last few decades, CCTV recordings are there from the point of
arrest and throughout the suspect’s stay in police facilities, and lawyers of
suspects are given CDs of these recordings on request. Such good practice
ensures that there is no abuse or wrongdoings on the part of the police, that
the law is complied with and that the arrested is not denied any of his/her
rights.
Malaysia yearns for a more trustworthy
police force to restore and/or enhance public confidence in our police and the
administration of criminal justice in Malaysia. We need police officers that
will not hesitate to report, investigate or even charge a fellow police officer
if he/she commits a crime.
Charles Hector
For and on behalf of MADPET (Malaysians
Against Death Penalty and Torture)
Thorough investigation into death in police custody in Yan
05 Feb 2021 / 10:00 H.
ALOR SETAR, Feb 4: Police are conducting a thorough investigation into the death of a detainee in the lockup of Yan Police headquarters on Jan 28.
Kedah
Police chief Datuk Hasanuddin Hassan said the investigation was to
determine whether there were elements of violence, negligence or
misconduct by police personnel as well as possibility of injury during
the arrest.
“To
date, a total of 47 witnesses have had their statements taken. They are
family members as well as police personnel involved in the arrest and
the ones manning the lockup.
“Others are the detainees who were
in same the lockup as well as medical officers from Yan Hospital and
Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital here,“ he said in a statement tonight.
He
said the detainee, Muhammad Afis Ahmad, was arrested on Jan 27 under
Section 379 and 170 of the Penal Code in connection with theft and
impersonating as a policeman.
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Hasanuddin
said during the arrest, the deceased had put up a struggle which caused
him to suffer injuries to the face, ear and forehead.
The
deceased was later taken to his house in Kampung Kilang Papan, Gurun for
further investigation and the police conducted an inspection at the
house which was also witnessed by his family members.
“No
seizures were made during the inspection and the deceased was handed
over to the Yan IPD for further action and was subsequently taken to the
lockup for remand the next day.
“At 12.30 am on Jan 28, he was
found unconscious and was sent to the Yan Hospital. At 1.10 am on the
same day, he was pronounced dead.
Hasanuddin
said a post-mortem conducted the following day revealed that Muhammad
Afis had died due to blunt force trauma to the head.
He said the
deceased used to serve as a volunteer police at the Kuala Muda IPD
between 2013 and 2014 but was dismissed for his alleged involvement in
drugs.
“The deceased had also been detained eight times for drug and criminal offences and sentenced by the court,“ he said.- Bernama - The Sun Daily, 4/2/2021
NEWS
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Police to use body cameras to prevent misconduct, corruption - Hamzah
Published
Modified 19 Nov 2020, 12:22 pm
The
government will implement the proposal made during the Pakatan Harapan
administration on the use of body cameras by police officers.
In a parliamentary written reply, Home Minister Hamzah Zainuddin (above)
said the move will prevent the accusation and imputation brought
against the security personnel while performing their duties.
The first phase procurement for 2,168 units of 4G body cameras will be made under the 12th Malaysia Plan in 2021, he said.
"The
government is concerned about the integrity level of the members of the
police force. The use of body camera can improve the positive
perception of the people on the police," Hamzah added.
"The
procurement will be implemented in 2021," he told Oscar Ling
(Harapan-Sibu), who asked if the Perikatan Nasional government plans to
use body cameras to prevent abuse of power and corruption.
Hamzah
said the government is committed to implementing the project by taking
into account the positive outcome of reducing complaints, wrongdoing and
corruption among the police personnel while performing their duties.
"On
top of that, the transparency of the delivery of services can be
strengthened while at the same time improve the relationship between the
police and the community," he added.
In September 2019, the then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the government was looking at equipping
selected enforcement personnel with body cameras as part of its efforts
to combat corruption and other alleged abuses of power.
Other measures included installing more CCTVs at strategic locations, including police lock-ups.
Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador also welcomed the proposal.
However, Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Karim had decried the proposal, saying it would be akin to treating the enforcement personnel as criminals. - Malaysiakini, 19/11/2020
IGP: Home Ministry still evaluating body cameras for police use
Monday, 14 Dec 2020 06:21 PM MYT
IGP Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador speaks
to reporters during the Op Bersepadu Khazanah press conference in
Selangor August 19, 2020. ― Picture by Shafwan Zaidon
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 14 — The Home Ministry (KDN) is still examining
several types of body cameras, or body-worn cameras (BWC) offered by
equipment firms for use by the police, says Inspector-General of Police
Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador.
“We are still waiting for the (approval of the) allocation to get the equipment (body cameras).
–– ADVERTISEMENT ––
“I understand that some companies have already offered several types
of body cameras. The ministry (is also) is looking at which is the best
one for the police,” he said in a media conference after the signing of
the Ops Benteng permanent procedures for operations at Wisma Perwira ATM
here today.
In July, Abdul Hamid was reported to have said that the police were
in the process of acquiring the equipment to be used by officers during
patrols, especially in urban areas.
He said besides the BWC, all police patrol cars would also be equipped with cameras. — Bernama - Malay Mail, 14/12/2020
EAIC says Johor man’s 2014 death in custody was murder
Friday October 30, 2015
11:49 PM GMT+8
File
picture of lawyer Gobind Singh Deo (right) holding up a copy of Syed
Mohd Azlan’s autopsy report while accompanying the victim’s parents,
Sharifah Halilah Syed Sylaiman, 57, and Syed Muhamad Nur Ali, 67, at a
news conference at the former’s office in Kuala Lumpur.
KUALA
LUMPUR, Oct 30 — The use of physical violence by police during arrest
and questioning was the cause of Syed Mohd Azlan Syed Mohamed Nur’s 2014
death in custody, the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC)
said today.
According to the enforcement watchdog, its investigations also found attempts
to obscure evidence from the 25-year-old’s interrogation that resulted
in 61 separate injuries on various parts of his body.
The
police officers involved also engaged in a “serious breach” of standard
operating procedures concerning the handling of detainees, material
seizure, and the integrity of statements.
“There was an
element of crime in the attacks involving common intent or abetment by
PDRM officers, including the arresting team, to intentionally use
physical violence on the deceased to cause death or injury,” the EAIC said in a statement today.
It
added that the action was a criminal offence, specifically under
Section 302 and 325 of the Penal Code read with Section 34 of the same
Act.
Section 302 pertains to murder while Section 325 involves
voluntarily causing grievous bodily harm; Section 34 deals with
voluntarily causing hurt.
The EAIC
then recommended that the Attorney-General’s Chambers to prosecute the
officers involved for the crimes identified in the agency’s
investigations.
It added that it was regrettable that custodial
deaths continue to occur repeatedly in the country, saying that the
matter should be viewed seriously.
According to the EAIC’s
investigations, Syed Mohd Azlan had been arrested on November 3, 2014
near Pengerang, Johor over possible involvement in an armed altercation
involving two groups on September 14 the same year.
He had been
detained by a team of 13 police officers and held at the Sungai Rengit
police station, where he had been interrogated over the attack.
Syed Mohd Azlan was later transferred to the Kota Tinggi district police headquarters to be remanded, but died while in transit.
A post-mortem determined the
cause of death to be blunt force trauma to his chest, while 61
defensive wounds were discovered on his face, torso, and both legs. -Malay Mail, 30/10/2015
MAKLUMAN SIASATANSURUHANJAYA INTEGRITI AGENSI PENGUATKUASAAN (EAIC)KE ATAS KEMATIANSYED MOHD AZLAN BIN SYED MOHAMED NUR SEMASA DI DALAM TAHANAN POLIS DIRAJA MALAYSIA (PDRM)
Putrajaya – 30 Oktober 2015 - Suruhanjaya Integriti Agensi Penguatkuasaan atau Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) ingin mengumumkan kepada orang awam mengenai dapatan (findings) siasatan oleh Suruhanjaya ini ke ataskematian Syed Mohd Azlan bin Syed Mohamed Nur semasa dalam tahanan PDRM.
Dalam
hal ini, EAIC melalui Pasukan Petugas yang dibentuk telah menjalankan
siasatan yang merangkumi terma-terma rujukan yang berikut: Terma-terma
rujukan (terms of reference) Pasukan Petugas adalah seperti berikut:
(i)
Untuk mengenal pasti sama ada terdapat sebarang salah laku seperti yang
diperuntukkan di bawah seksyen 24 Akta 700 oleh pegawai/ anggota PDRM
semasa mengendalikan tahanan tersebut;
(ii) Sekiranya terdapat salah laku dizahirkan, untuk menentukan dan mengenal pasti:
(a) bagaimana dan mengapa salah laku itu terjadi;
(b) apakah peraturan-peraturan, kaedah-kaedah, Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) atau mekanisme yang menyebabkan atau mendorong kepada berlakunya salah laku tersebut; dan
(c) siapakah individu yang bertanggungjawab ke atas salah laku tersebut.
(iii)
Untuk melakukan semua perkara yang suai manfaat atau yang
semunasabahnya perlu bagi, atau yang bersampingan dengan, pelaksanaan
fungsinya dalam menyiasat kes kematian tahanan tersebut selaras dengan
peruntukan Akta 700;
(iv)
Untuk mengesyorkan apa-apa penambahbaikan atau penggubalan semula
peraturan-peraturan, kaedah-kaedah, SOP atau mekanisme bagi memastikan
salah laku tersebut tidak berulang; dan
(v) Untuk menyedia dan mengedarkan laporan mengenai hasil dan dapatan siasatan dan syor-syor terhadapnya.
Sehubungan dengan pembentukan Pasukan Petugas tersebut, Pasukan Petugas yang telah mengambil tindakan berikut:
(a)
mengambil keterangan daripada 35 orang saksi (termasuk anggota polis
berkaitan penangkapan dan tahanan Syed Mohd Azlan (si mati), pegawai
perubatan, orang awam dan juga ahli keluarga si mati);
(b) melawat dan memeriksa tempat kejadian di mana Syed Mohd Azlan telah ditangkap;
(c)
meneliti dan mengkaji dokumen-dokumen yang berkaitan termasuk laporan
polis berkenaan tangkapan, catatan Buku Perharian Balai, laporan bedah
siasat dan laporan kimia beserta gambar-gambar berkaitan;
Latar belakang kejadian tangkapan dan kematian si mati adalah seperti berikut:
(i)
Pada 19 September, 2014 lebih kurang jam 1.00 pagi, pengadu iaitu
seorang lelaki Melayu bersama beberapa rakannya termasuk seorang teman
wanita pengadu telah pergi ke rumah di
alamat No. 53, Kampung Dato’ Abdul Ghani untuk berjumpa dengan Syed
Mohd Azlan bin Syed Mohamed Nur (si mati). Mereka diberitahu oleh bapa
si mati bahawa si mati tiada di rumah pada ketika itu.
(ii)
Lebih kurang 30 minit kemudian, si mati pulang ke rumah bersama
beberapa rakan si mati dengan menaiki kereta jenis Proton Saga berwarna
perak serta sebuah lagi kereta jenis Honda berwarna hitam. Setiba di
situ, si mati dan rakan-rakan si mati dikatakan telah keluar daripada
kereta dengan bersenjatakan senjata berbentuk sepucuk pistol dan sebilah
pedang samurai lalu menyerang pengadu dan rakan-rakan pengadu sehingga
mendatangkan kecederaan ke atas pengadu dan rakan pengadu. Pengadu
berjaya melarikan diri dari terus diserang.
(iii)
Satu laporan polis telah dibuat oleh pengadu di Balai Polis Sungai
Rengit (Sg Rengit Rpt: 816/2014) bersabit dengan kejadian tersebut pada
19 September 2014 jam 4.45 pagi. Satu kertas siasatan telah dibuka oleh
pihak polis untuk disiasat di bawah seksyen 148 Kanun Keseksaan, iaitu memiliki senjata di dalam rusuhan.
(iv)
Pada 3 November 2014, jam lebih kurang 3.30 pagi, bertindak di atas
maklumat, sepasukan polis seramai 13 orang anggota yang diketuai oleh
seorang pegawai berpangkat Inspektor telah membuat serbuan ke atas
sebuah bilik sewa di rumah bernombor 62, Kampung Simon, Teluk Ramunia,
Sungai Rengit, Pengerang, Johor dan telah menangkap si mati. Tiada
apa-apa senjata api dijumpai dari si mati.
(v)
Selepas ditangkap, si mati telah dibawa balik ke Balai Polis Sungai
Rengit untuk disoal siasat berkaitan kejadian pergaduhan dan penyimpanan
senjata api. Bagaimana pun masih tiada senjata api ditemui walau pun
pihak polis telah membuat penggeledahan di rumah bapa si mati.
(vi)
Pada jam lebih kurang 7.10 pagi pada hari yang sama, si mati telah
dibawa oleh pihak polis menaiki kenderaan polis dari Balai Polis Sungai
Rengit untuk pergi ke Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah (IPD) Kota Tinggi bagi
tujuan menguruskan permohonan reman ke atas si mati berkaitan kes di
mana si mati di tangkap yang disiasat di bawah seksyen 148 Kanun
Keseksaan bersabit Sg. Rengit Rpt: 816/2014.
(vii)
Semasa di dalam perjalanan ke IPD Kota Tinggi, anggota polis yang
mengiringi si mati mendapati si mati berada di dalam keadaan yang lemah
dan tidak bermaya serta tidak memberikan sebarang respon kepada
panggilan/pertanyaan yang dibuat oleh anggota pengiring tersebut.
Anggota pengiring tersebut sertamerta memaklumkan keadaan si mati kepada
pegawai tangkapan yang ikut sama di dalam kereta tersebut.
(viii)
Di atas arahan pegawai tersebut, mereka terus menuju ke klinik
berdekatan iaitu Klinik Kesihatan Bandar Penawar. Setibanya mereka di
Klinik Kesihatan Bandar Penawar pada jam lebih kurang 8.30 pagi, pegawai
perubatan bertugas iaitu Dr. Mohd Mahdzan Bin Mazelan telah melakukan
pemeriksaan ke atas si mati dan mengesahkan bahawa si mati telah
meninggal dunia.
(ix)
Satu laporan polis tentang kematian si mati telah dibuat oleh pegawai
iaitu ketua pasukan tangkapan pada 3 November 2014, jam 10.15 pagi (hari
yang sama) melalui Bandar Penawar Report No. 002169/14.
(x) Pada 4 November 2014, bedah siasat (post mortem)
telah dijalankan ke atas mayat si mati oleh Dr. Rohayu binti Shahar
Adnan di Hospital Sultan Ismail, Johor Bahru yang mengesahkan punca
kematian adalah akibat daripada trauma hentakan tumpul pada dada (blunt force trauma to chest). Pemeriksaan juga mendapati si mati mengalami 61 jenis kesan luka/lebam/calaran (bruises) pada tubuh badan termasuk pada bahagian muka, badan dan kedua-dua belah kaki si mati. Satu laporan post mortem telah disediakan oleh doktor pakar tersebut.
Siasatan
kes kematian si mati tersebut telah selesai dijalankan oleh Pasukan
Petugas EAIC dan diterima oleh EAIC selari dengan terma-terma rujukan
siasatan. Dapatan (findings) siasatan adalah seperti berikut:
1. Kematian Syed Mohd Azlan Bin Syed Mohamed Nur (si mati) mempunyai kaitan dengan penggunaan kekerasan secara fizikal oleh pihak polis yang menjalankan tangkapan dan soal siasat ke atas si mati;
2.
Pakar Perunding dan Ketua Jabatan, Jabatan Perubatan Forensik, Hospital
Sultan Ismail, Johor Bahru, yang menjalankan bedah siasat ke atas mayat
si mati mendapati kematian Syed Mohd Azlan disebabkan oleh trauma
hentakan tumpul (blunt force trauma to the chest) ke atas dada si
mati tersebut. Pemeriksaan juga mendapati si mati mengalami 61 jenis
kecederaan di bahagian muka, badan dan kedua-dua belah kaki. Sebahagian
daripada kecederaan yang dialami oleh si mati konsisten dengan
kecederaan semasa berusaha mempertahankan diri daripada kekerasan fizikal yang dilakukan ke atasnya oleh anggota-anggota polis.
3. Terdapat perlakuan gangguan bahan bukti yang material oleh anggota PDRMiaitu,
(i) membersihkan tempat kejadian sebelum dilawati dan diperiksa oleh pegawai perubatan,
(ii) melupuskan tikar getah dan karpet yang dipercayai mempunyai kesan darah si mati di tempat kejadian tangkapan, dan
(iii) perlakuanmenyembunyikan/menghilangkan saksi mata (eye witness) yang melihat kejadian tangkapan si mati;
4.
Terdapat anggota tangkapan yang menggunakan gari milik persendirian
anggota tersebut yang bukan dibekalkan oleh PDRM bagi menggari si mati
selepas ditangkap yang telah menyumbang kepada berlakunya kecederaan di
pergelangan tangan si mati.
5. Terdapat beberapa pemecahan serius (serious breach) ke atas StandardOperating Procedure (SOP)
PDRM berkaitan tatacara tangkapan dan pengendalian orang tangkapan,
sitaan barang kes dan integriti keterangan (SOP Tangkapan Jabatan
Siasatan Jenayah PDRM); SOP Jabatan Siasatan Jenayah (Prosedur
Penggeledahan dan Rampasan) telah dilakukan oleh pegawai dan anggota
pasukan serbuan yang dikenalpasti oleh siasatan ini;
6. Terdapat perlakuan serangan bersifat jenayah yang melibatkan unsur niat bersama atau pensubahatan (abetment)
oleh anggota PDRM yang terdiri daripada anggota pasukan tangkapan bagi
melakukan kekerasan fizikal secara sengaja ke atas si matiyang telah mengakibatkan kecederaan dan kematian ke atas si mati, dan perlakuan ini adalah merupakan jeniskesalahan
bersifat jenayah di bawah undang-undang, khususnya kesalahan di bawah
seksyen 302 dan seksyen 325 Kanun Keseksaan dibaca bersama seksyen 34
Kanun Keseksaan atau secara alternatif seksyen 107 Kanun yang sama;
7. Selaras dengan peruntukan seksyen 30(1)(b) Akta Suruhanjaya Integriti Agensi Penguatkuasaan 2009 [Akta 700], Suruhanjaya mengesyorkan kepada Pihak Berkuasa Patatertib (PBT) PDRM untuk tindakan tatatatertibdibawa
terhadap pegawai dan anggota-anggota yang dikenalpasti di dalam laporan
penuh Suruhanjaya yang didapati telah melakukan salah laku seperti mana
skop salah laku yang diberikan di bawah seksyen 24 Akta 700;
8. Selaras dengan peruntukan seksyen 30(1)(c) Akta Suruhanjaya Integriti Agensi Penguatkuasaan 2009 [Akta 700], EAIC mengesyorkan kepadaPendakwa
Raya (Peguam Negara) bagi pendakwaan jenayah dibawa terhadap pegawai
dan anggota PDRM yang didapati telah melakukan salah laku bersifat
kesalahan jenayah seperti yang dikenalpasti di dalam laporan penuh siasatan ini.
EAIC
juga sebagai tambahan mengemukakan syor dan cadangan berikut kepada
PDRM sebagai penambahbaikan dalam usaha meningkatkan kecekapan dan
kualiti pengurusan orang tahanan atau orang tangkapan bagi mengelakkan
insiden kematian orang tahanan atau orang tangkapan semasa berada di
dalam tahanan:
1.
PDRM menambahbaik SOP berkaitan dengan tangkapan. Jika sekiranya orang
tangkapan didapati mengalami kecederaan fizikal (walaupun kecederaan
nampak seperti tidak serius), maka saspek itu hendaklah dirujuk terus
kepada mana-mana Pegawai Perubatan Kerajaan bagi memastikan tahap
keseriusan kecederaan serta status kesihatan saspek tersebut;
2. PDRM mengadakan “refresher course” atau “refresher training”
yang berterusan secara berkumpulan dan berperingkat kepada semua
lapisan pegawai dan anggota yang terlibat di dalam operasi
serbuan/tangkapan untuk memastikan supaya pegawai dan anggota
benar-benar memahami dan mengamalkan kehendak serta tatacara yang
diperuntukkan dalam kes-kes tangkapan atau operasi yang berkaitan dengan
tangkapan;
3.
PDRM memperketatkan dan menjalankan pemantauan dengan lebih berkesan ke
atas pematuhan oleh pegawai dan anggota PDRM ke atas SOP Jabatan
Siasatan Jenayah atau Perintah Tetap khususnya berkaitan soalsiasat ke
atas orang tahanan, penyitaan barang kes dan kewajipan menyediakan
borang geledah atau borang bongkar. Di dalam perkara ini terdapat SOP
yang melarang sebarang penggunaan kekerasan ke atas orang tahanan semasa
disoalsiasat (PTKPN A 118);
4.
PDRM mengemaskini SOP yang berkaitan bagi melarang sama sekali manamana
pegawai atau anggota dari menggunakan peralatan yang tidak dibenarkan
atau peralatan yang bukan dibekalkan oleh PDRM dalam apa-apa operasi
tangkapan; dan
Selain itu, EAIC juga mengesyorkan
supaya kajian dibuat oleh pihak Kementerian Dalam Negeri dan Jabatan
Peguam Negara ke atas kesesuaian untuk meminda peruntukan Kanun
Keseksaan dan Akta Keterangan 1950 bagi memasukkan peruntukan anggapan (presumption)
yang akan meletakkan beban bukti ke atas pihak yang mempunyai jagaan
dan kawalan ke atas orang tahanan sebagai bertanggungan ke atas
kecederaan atau kematian orang tahanan sehingga diakaskan atau
dibuktikan sebaliknya.Ini akan dapat mengimbangi keadaan di
mana monopoli keterangan hanya dimiliki oleh pihak yang melakukan
tahanan ke atas orang tahanan atau mangsa bagi kes-kes kejadian kematian
dan kecederaan orang tahanan di bawah jagaan mana-mana pihak berkuasa
berkaitan.
EAIC
berasa kesal ke atas kes-kes kematian tahanan dalam lokap yang berulang
kali berlaku dalam negara dan memandang serius kepada perkara ini.
Kejadian kematian orang tahanan akibat daripada kecederaan tubuh badan
semasa di dalam tempoh tahanan oleh perlakuan salah laku anggota penguat
kuasa hendaklah dibasmi sama sekali. Demi menjaga integriti semua
pihak, diharapkan syor-syor Suruhanjaya ini diberi perhatian dan
tindakan serius oleh semua pihak-pihak yang berkaitan. Untuk mendapatkan
butiran lanjut kandungan laporan siasatan ini orang awam boleh mendapat
akses melalui laman sesawang EAIC di alamatwww.eaic.gov.my.
