Kugan: Petition to palace fails - Malaysiakini

An attempt to submit a petition calling for a speedy probe into the death of detainee A Kugan to Istana Negara today was unsuccessful as the police refused to allow more than three persons to meet palace officials.

Some 20 people, including the deceased family members and supporters led by members of parliament Gobind Singh Deo (DAP-Puchong) and S Manikavasagam (PKR-Kapar) left the palace at 11.30am dejected.

“The family members alone consist of three people... what about their lawyer and the MPs accompanying the family? We too want to meet the palace officials when the petition is submitted,” said Gobind.

Also present were supporters of the banned Hindu Right Action Force (Hindraf) and newly-formed Human Right Party (HRP) members lead by its secretary-general P Uthayakumar.

Kugan's mother N Indra, his sister S Garthiyaini and brothers Iswara and Shargunan were also present.

Distraught by the police' refusal to let all of them to submit their petition, Indra broke in tears as her lawyer N Surendran and the parliamentarians tried to negotiate with the police.

She could hardly say much apart from demanding that justice be served and punishment meted out against her son's murderers.

Gobind said he could not understand the "logic" of the police's refusal to allow more people to meet the palace officials.

"Firstly, it was not our intention to go into the palace, it was our intention to hand over the petition to the palace officials outside," said Gobind.

"We were there as a peaceful group, it was not our intention to create a ruckus... but the police did not seem to understand this," he said.

AG duty bound to take action

He also demanded that attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail to come forward and explain why nothing has been done in the past eight months.

"He (Abdul Gani) is duty-bound to explain to the public... I also ask why isn't the prime minister showing similar concern in this case as he did in the case of political aide Teoh Being Hock, who was found dead at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission in Shah Alam," quizzed Gobind.

"The entire country cannot understand why the silence on the part of the AG, who had already classified it (Kugan's case) as a murder," asked Gobind.

Uthayakumar added that Kugan's death was just the "tip of the iceberg" on deaths in police custody.

"The behaviour of the Brickfields OCPD Asst Comm Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Khalid is not exemplary to the prime minister's call for One Malaysia," said Uthayakumar.

"While the government is saying the country will be more liberal by reviewing the Internal Security Act and Police Act, the implementation at ground level is not consistence," he said.

When approached by reporters Abdul Bari described the group as being unreasonable because they had initially agreed to a delegation comprising three people.

"However, despite the palace allowing up to five people to meet them, the whole group insisted on going in," Abdul Bari said.

Kugan, 23, died in custody at the Taipan police station in USJ on Jan 20 after being detained for questioning as part of an investigation into several luxury car theft cases.

The first autopsy conducted by the Serdang Hospital concluded that Kugan had died from liquid in his lungs.

Dissatisfied with the report, his family demanded that a second post-mortem to be done, as a video clip taken at the Serdang Hospital mortuary revealed severe bruising on Kugan's body.

Following massive public outcry accusing the police of foul play, AG Abdul Gani reclassified the case as murder and a day later 11 officers from the Taipan police station were transferred and put on desk duty.

The police had in April seized Kugan's blood and tissue samples from the second pathologist's office in Universiti Malaya Medical Centre.

Currently, the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) is probing Dr Karim Tajuddin's professional conduct in relation to the cause of Kugan's death in the first post-mortem report at Serdang.

'We will not stop here'

The number of police officers, including Light Strike Force personnel, exceeded the number of the supporters gathered at the palace gates this morning.

"This again reflects the draconian manner in which the police are prepared to act in cases where they are alleged to be the suspects," blasted Gobind.

Gobind said further that the police should not have impeded their programme as their petition was against the lackadaisical attitude in the enforcement authorities.

"The police ought not to have interfered today because the complaint we are raising is squarely against them so it is difficult to understand how they can be independent in this circumstance," he said.

"The home minister should explain why a group of Malaysians in small numbers cannot handover a memorandum to their king... everyday you see tourists and foreigners taking photographs at the gates of the palace but the rakyat have to face a barricade of police officers to give a letter to king," he lamented.

"We make very clear we will not stop here and we will return soon... we sincerely hope that we will be allowed to hand over the petition next time without any interference," said Gobind, adding that he would be raising the matter in Parliament when it resume sitting on Oct 19.

Human rights lawyer Surendran, who is representing Kugan's family, said that they have evidence that the latter was "cold-bloodedly murdered".

"The specimens that we were supposed to have taken for toxicology would have given further proof the police had deliberately and intentionally murdered him," stressed Surendran.

There is a high-powered prosecution team that is fighting to stop us from obtaining the samples, said Surendran, adding that the judge is expected to rule on the matter which is coming up on Oct 2.

Kugan's mother has applied to the court for the samples, which were taken from the pathologist who did the second post-mortem, to be returned.

Comments from Malaysiakini:-

by X'roy

Kugan's death was a murder, it was classified such by the IGP himself, so how do you expect this Police under this IGP to implicate themselves by freeing the samples so that the credibility of that statement, "Kugan was murdered" made by this IGP stands. Kugan died after giving the Police some valuable insights into how luxury cars were stolen, he died in the custody of the Police, and therefore the Police are responsible. For them to now hide behind the samples of his DNA is totally unacceptable, with all this in place how do we trust such a Police force and how do we trust this IGP whose term has been extended twice, The next question is why has this IGP's position been extended twice, aren't there any other capable men in the force to take over, or is he being kept there because he has been UMNO's good boy all this while?

by Anak Desa

Kugan's family should file a complaint against the Malaysian Government with the UNITED NATIONS Human rights commission and let all the news channels carry the news. I may not agree what was kugan's job but a human life shouldnt be taken away just like that by the cops and their cohorts syndicate

by Habib RAK

The Brickfields OCPD Asst Comm Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Khalid is such an embarassment. Even his subordinates are embarassed by his behavior. I guess he loves to make a fool of himself time and again. A real idiot who doesnt realise that his silly antics are being captured on video. Soon his family and his children will be embarassed of him when they see the video clip. They will ask him "ayah kenape menyalak macam anjing?"

by P.Dev Anand Pillai - 3 hours ago

If the Indians can still vote the BN after witnessing how the OCPD of Brickfields screamed at the group who tried to present a petition to the King, then there is nothing that can be done to help them. PMs can come and go, MIC Chiefs can come and go, Indian based parties can come and go but if the Indians still keep voting the BN, then they will keep us where they feel is right that is at the bottom most. What happenned to Kugan can happen to any Indian family who have sons and if we do not react to this, the police will feel that their treatment of those who are in their custody is right. Therefore, the only way to respond to this is to keep voting against them until they rehabilitate but sadly, they know that the Indians can be easily divided and targeted if some money and perks are throne in. So the Indians have no one else but themselves to blame for such a predicament to the Indian

he Indians have no one else but themselves to blame for such a predicament to the Indian race in Malaysia today. I salute Kugan's mother.

by fairnessforall

In any case, the palace should not have refused to accept the petition. This shows they have double standards. They should have insisted that 3 people as agreed go in and accept the petition. The police as we already know will always bully the public, so why give them a chance by going against what was agreed on as that will only give them a reason for rejecting. The main object on submitting the petition should have been done by just sending in 3 people and not insisting that many go in

by ANTI BODEK

APA SUDAH JADI DENGAN NEGARA KITA YANG MENGAMALKAN SISTEM BERAJA. APA GUNANYA AGONG YANG TIADA PEKA DENGAN MASALAH RAKYAT. DI MALAYSIA POLIS YANG BERKUASA ATAU AGONG YANG BERKUASA? MALAYSIA BELUM MERDEKA LAGI. KALAU TIDAK , MASALAH INI DAPAT DISELESAIKAN DALAM MASA TERDEKAT. AYO RAKYAT BANGUN DAN BERSUARA SERTA BERDOA KEPADA TUHAN SUPAYA TUHAN MEMBUKA HATI AGONG UNTUK MENDENGAR SUARA RAKYAT BUKANNYA KRONI BN DAN LAIN-LAIN.

by SMC77

I am speechless to see the development of this case. Let us vote the BN out and bring the justice to Kugan and his family even this means that we need to fire half of the police force to clean up the whole system.

by justice seeker

I salute the 2 MPs, Tiger of Puchong YB Gobind Singh and the Maratamizhan YB Manika. Lawyer Surendran who should have been an MP also deserves my salutation for their persistent pursuing of Kugan's case. Its a joy watching YB Gobind arguing his case in the TBH inquest at times exihibiting the traits of his father Singh is King--who is unofficially recognised as the best criminal lawyer in the country. In no time YB Gobind will be claiming that throne. We need more people like him who challenges the authority fearlessly. The Indians should give total support to the young leaders like YB Gobind,YB Manika and the very promising lawyer Mr Surendran.

by concern citizen

bodoh bangang punya polis... Agong itu orang le bukan Tuhan Yang Maha Kuasa. Kalau memorandum tak boleh terima daripada rakyat. apa gunanya ada Agong di negara ini yang tak boleh dengar deritan rakyat jelata......... sungguh memalukan..... bubar aje kuasa sultan di negara ini seprti apa yang berlaku di Nepal..

by Loyal Malaysian

My battle cry has been Justice for Beng Hock! But it is also justice for Kugan and all suspicous police custodial death! Why the intolerance? Why the high-handed measure to deny the family of solace knowing they have appealed to the highest authority of our country?

by Victor Johan

It seems this OCPD of the Brickfields Police Station is hailer-crazy. He warns to give 3 warnings (Tiga amaran) but keeps screaming many times to have the crowd disperse, even when the crowd already moved on. What a scum, to the highest order!! He forgot that there were educated, highly qualified professionals, Members of Parliament, people who can easily 'pocket' him, literally. His occupational days are numbered. Anyway, I understand that he has a filthy rich lifestyle. Wonder where he gets more than his officially salary and perks. Any guesses why so many pubs, karaoke, messes and dents operate at Brickfields area without any problems, only occasional premeditate raids? I was told that you could actually find him and his boys often at the dandut outlets and massage palours there too. They go there in plain clothes, apparently 'under cover' for investigations. And some of them actually end up 'under the covers' too, you know what I mean? Ingat kita semua masih bodoh atau takut kah?

by Victor Johan

Two thoughts come to my mind: First, let's check/investigate the background of this "hello hello hello hello hello this is OCPD Brickfield". For now he has portrayed himself to be an uncouth scum. Second, lodge new reports at the Taipan and Brickfields police stations, include the report of confiscation of the medical details and reports from UMMC. Also scan and distribute the petition you were to hand over to the Agung. We want a statement from the Agung if he is the RAJA of Malaysia or is it that the Malaysian Police Force (PDRM) now is called "POLIS RAJA DI MALAYSIA". With PR moving into Putrajaya with the most definite more than 2/3 majority, the constituition can be changed with ease, so beware royalties.

by low siew chuen

Cannot see others comments This happens for most articles. Please assist.

by Keanjin

The OCPD BF really got a bad 'image' the way he talk is very rude and act like lower class officer!

by Ayahanda

Well, I won't be surprised if the Police and our BN gove asks " Kugan, what Kugan? Never heard of him before!" To the best of my knowledge, the AG, the Police and the rest of "their gang" have completely forgotten Kugan because he is of no advantage to them. What was MIC, PPP, MCA, Gerakan and our newbie Makkal Sakti parties to say?

by Arul Inthirarajah

They should bring Saiful along. They will be given an immediate audience with Najib.

by ND2817

Its a Police state...We should give the petition to the Police instead of Agong..coz..Polis RAJA di Malaysia...

by koh jen yen

I guess is indeed to much to ask especially the suspect is the police themselve.. So one up for selective policing..

by Sentinel

Rejecting a petition from a helpless family who lost a loved one based on the excuse of too many people is just too much... I hope some people who live a life of luxury based on taxpayers' money understand they are responsible to the taxpayers / rakyat. Kugan will not rest in peace until justice is delivered.