13-year-old claims abuse in police lock-up

The school dropout claims that he was assaulted by the police when he was detained for alleged theft.

BAHAU: A 13-year-old boy charged with jewellery theft on Friday has claimed that he was physically abused by the police while under detention.

S Sunther, from St Helier Estate here, claimed that he was assaulted by police personnel at the Jempol police station following his arrest on Feb 26 over his alleged role in stealing his neighbour’s jewellery.

The school dropout was charged with the theft at the Bahau Magistrates’ Court on March 2 and has been released on a RM3,800 surety. He is due to report back to the Juvenile Court on May 2 when his plea will be recorded.

He only informed his family of the alleged assault in the hands of the police after his court appearance on March 2.

“He told me that he was beaten with a rubber hose and there are injuries on his eyes and body,” his father AK Selvam told FMT today.

Selvam said that he immediately lodged a police report on the same day, March 2, asking for a thorough investigation into the allege assault on his son.

This incident has also caught the attention of Negeri Sembilan MIC chief T Rajagopalu and MIC’s Jeram Padang state assemblyman VS Mogan.

Rajagopalu told FMT that he was also unhappy with the fact that a juvenile was held in a police custody for five days.

“He is just 13-years-old. The police should have taken him to court as soon as possible. I have raised this matter with the state police chief Osman Salleh,” he said.

The MIC leader also said that the party made arrangements to send Sunther to Bandar Seri Jempol Hospital for treatment. He was later referred to an eye specialist in Kuala Pilah district hospital, he added.

“Yesterday (Saturday) we had to send him to Bandar Seri Jempol Hospital again as he was complaining of vomiting,” said Rajagopalu.

Home minister alerted

Meanwhile Mogan told FMT that he had informed Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein via twitter of the incident, and that the minister had responded by saying that he would ask IGP Ismail Omar to look into the matter.

Both he and Rajagopalu also gave assurance to Selvam that the state MIC would provide legal assistance to the family on the matter.

In another development, state police chief Osman was quoted in the Negeri Sembilan edition of Sinar Harian as urging the public not to speculate on the case as investigations were still under way.

“If the allegation is true, we will take action against anyone who is guilty,” Osman was quoted as saying.
He also said that Sunther had infact complained of pain in his eye while in custody, following which he was sent to Bandar Seri Jempol Hospital for treatment.

“He received out-patient treatment. According to the doctor, he was suffering from eye infection. He had not informed the doctor that his eye was hurt as a result of any assault.

“No x-ray was done at that point of time and there was no sign of bleeding,” said Osman.
The police chief also said that Sunther had not mentioned anything about being assaulted to the magistrate.