Room where Kugan's body found now divided in two

The interrogation room where a doctor found A Kugan showing no signs of life at the Taipan police station last year, has now been divided into two - the first being a reception room, leading into the second, an office.

Petaling Jaya Sessions judge Aslam Zainuddin found this out as he visited the police station for half an hour today, to familiarise himself with the scene of the crime.

A partition, 10.15cm thick, separates the two rooms. It was put up last July, seven months after the incident. The partition has been built on the spot where Kugan was found dead.

The office, measuring 1.83m by 3.66m, is now occupied by Chief Inspector Harun Abu Bakar

Police constable, V Navindran, 28, is charged with two counts of causing grievous hurt to Kugan, 23, who died while in police custody, at the interrogation roon of the D9 office of the Taipan police station between 7am and 4pm on Jan 16, last year.

On Friday, second prosecution witness, Dr Baldev Singh Gill, 43, testified Navindran had asked him to go to the Taipan USJ police station in Subang Jaya where Kugan, who was being questioned over a car theft in January 2009, needed treatment.

Baldev said he checked Kugan's pulse on the neck and wrists but found no signs of life.

"I then shone a torchlight into his (Kugan's) eyes and there were no reaction. I also used a stethoscope to check his heartbeat but again there were no signs of life," he testified.

Glass door covered

Aslam arrived at the Taipan police station at about 10.42 am. He arrived with DPP Mohd Abazafree Mohd Abbas. They were met by the chief of the station's D9 (serious crimes) unit ASP Rodney Pasla Harris.

Rodney is also the accused's immediate superior. They spent 30 minutes at the interrogation room where Kugan was found.

Navindran's lawyer, PM Nagarajan was also present.

Reporters who were also allowed to see the scene also found the glass door to the entrance of the room being covered with black paper.

It was learnt that initially, it was supposed to be a place where the officers could rest but had been made into an interrogation room.

Outside of the room is an open office area, which Harris said is occupied 24 hours a day.

The case had cause an uproar over the tactics employed by police in interrogating suspects.

Hearing on the matter will resume at 2.30pm at the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court, with Harris taking the stand.