PETALING JAYA, March 3 — The results of a second autopsy released by the family of A Kugan shows the suspected car thief was beaten and eventually died from acute kidney failure.
This appears to confirm widespread suspicion that the suspected criminal was beaten to death in police custody.
The second post mortem was carried out by forensic pathologist Dr Prashant N Samberkar.
It indicated Kugan died of acute renal failure as a result of a condition known as rhabdomyolysis, which is the rapid break-down of skeletal muscle tissue which will lead to kidney failure.
The condition was likely to have been caused by blunt force trauma from the beating he sustained, according to the report.
During a press conference, today, lawyer N Surendren said the findings of the second post mortem report was totally contrary to the first, which was carried out at the Serdang Hospital, on Feb 21, and indicated that Kugan died due to fluids in the lungs.
More shocking is the extent of external injuries found on Kugan body, who died on Feb 20 after five days in police custody.
The post-mortem reports indicate there were “41 external marks” on Kugan’s body including burn injuries and from beatings.
Kugan was branded, just like how cattle are marked, by the “repeated application of heat with an instrument with a triangular surface, multiple “V” shape imprint burn wounds on the skin of his back.
Some of the wounds were in their healing stage while others were infected.
Surendren said the pathologist also found that Kugan’s stomach was empty which also meant he was being starved at the time.
“I hope the police hang their heads in shame, institute reforms and stop putting obstacles in the implementation of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission.”
He added that the second post mortem report will be handed to the Attorney-General’s chambers tomorrow.
Teluk Intan MP M Manogaran said the post-mortem report was a damning indictment of the police.
“In my 15 years, of (law) practice I have never seen so severe injuries in a case of death.”
He added that confessions were no longer admissible in court and he failed to understand why the police went to such an extent to brutalised a suspect.
Manogaran said there was death in custody almost every month and no one knew how many suspects were being treated this way.
“I am afraid this could happened to even my own children and I am embarrassed that the police would resort to interrogation methods.”
Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo said the case highlights the need for independent inquiries to be held for all death in custody cases.
He said families of victims should be allowed to have second post-mortem reports done to satisfy themselves that their loved ones were not tortured in police custody.
Meanwhile Kota Raja MP Dr Siti Mariah Mahmood said she was shocked at the findings of the second post-mortem but advised the public not to turn the matter into a racial issue.
She said this was not a racial issue, but a question of humanity, because it can happen to anyone who is in police custody.
“What if it was our children and how would we feel if they were?” she asked.
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