At a press conference today, she said four people who had witnessed the fatal shooting of D Dinesh, 26, in Ampang on Aug 21 were re-arrested and sent to the Sea Park police station after their remand order expired on Aug 25.
“This
is what is called ‘chain-smoking remand’ (tukar gari). If the police
can’t get an extension of remand, they pass (the suspect) to another set of police... defying the magistrate’s order,” said Latheefa (right).
Two of Dinesh’s cousins and four of his friends who had visited him in Hospital Ampang were nabbed there, but released last night after four days in remand.
“They were nowhere near the shootout. If (police) did nothing wrong, there is no reason to do this,” she said.
Dinesh died from close range gunshot wounds to the head and arm two days after the shooting.
Police have claimed that the shooting occurred after patrolling officers were attacked with a parang.
Ampang Jaya district deputy police chief Md Nazri Zawawi was reported by dailies Kosmo! and Harian Metro as saying that the car which Dinesh was in tried to rear-end a patrol car.
He also said that those in the car with Dinesh, allegedly from the Viva Nanda gang, also smashed the windscreen of the patrol car with parangs.
They were said to be involved in a gang fight in Pandan Perdana earlier, and were on the way back to resume the fight when intercepted at about 2am.
When contacted, Ampang OCPD Amiruddin Jamaluddin, who is still on leave, said he stands by his deputy’s statement but pledged to conduct a “thorough investigation”.
According to PKR
vice-president N Surendran (extreme left in photo), the police statement
on the matter smells of a cover-up as eyewitnesses said Dinesh was unarmed and retreating when he was shot.
He said that, instead of trying to cover up the matter, police should classify the case as murder, suspend all personnel who were involved and begin investigations.
“They are interfering with key witnesses. I am warning the home minister and the inspector-general of police ... We have other witnesses. Do no touch, harass or intimidate these witnesses.
“Don't try to go after these witnesses, or you’ll face street protests."
Latheefa noted that the police reaction has not changed since the fatal shooting of 14-year-old Aminulrasyid Amzah, despite vows to review the standard operating procedure.
Echoing him was his son Rajan (right in photo), who tearfully defended his brother’s innocence.
“My brother was always teaching me how to do business. I didn’t expect things to end up like this. I want justice for him. Please,” he pleaded, alongside his mother Florence Abeyesekera and sister Sharon.
Citing statistics provided in Parliament, Kapar MP S Manickavasagam said that from 2000 to 2009, 279 people had been shot dead by police, the majority of whom were Indonesian nationals.
The written reply by Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said this is in accordance to the Criminal Procedure Code and the Inspector-General of Police Standing Order.
However, Subang MP Sivarasa Rasiah said the figure could be understated.
“In 2008 alone, police figures state that 27 people were shot, but human rights NGO Suaram documented at least 44 cases that year alone (as) published in their documents.
“The Human Rights Party which also monitors this, found 82 cases the same year."
“Since then we have had other shootings, like the Glenmarie shootings which involved three youths who were also claimed to be part of a gang. The parang said to be found in Aminulrasyid’s car is also still unaccounted for,” she added.
Family refutes police claims
Like the family of Aminulrasyid and the three youths gunned down in Glenmarie, Shah Alam, Dinesh’s family members who were present today refuted claims that he was part of a gang.
“My son is a very pious and simple boy. He won’t do anything like this. I want justice, I want the person (responsible) to be charged,” his father W Darmasena said.
Echoing him was his son Rajan (right in photo), who tearfully defended his brother’s innocence.“My brother was always teaching me how to do business. I didn’t expect things to end up like this. I want justice for him. Please,” he pleaded, alongside his mother Florence Abeyesekera and sister Sharon.
Citing statistics provided in Parliament, Kapar MP S Manickavasagam said that from 2000 to 2009, 279 people had been shot dead by police, the majority of whom were Indonesian nationals.
The written reply by Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said this is in accordance to the Criminal Procedure Code and the Inspector-General of Police Standing Order.
However, Subang MP Sivarasa Rasiah said the figure could be understated.
“In 2008 alone, police figures state that 27 people were shot, but human rights NGO Suaram documented at least 44 cases that year alone (as) published in their documents.
“The Human Rights Party which also monitors this, found 82 cases the same year."
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