'May Sugumar be the last police custodial death case'

A candlelight vigil was held last night to remember the tragedy of former security guard Sugumar Chelladuray who was allegedly beaten to death by four cops in Hulu Langat last month.

30 civil society representatives and Pakatan Rakyat leaders held the roughly 30 minute memorial in the busy shopping district of Penang’s famous Little India, and drew the attention of curious shoppers.

PKR vice-president N Surendran kicked off the proceedings announcing that the vigil was being concurrently held in Kuala Lumpur, to seek justice for Sugumar whose body he said is decomposing by the day in the morgue.

“The family is not able to carry out the final Hindu funeral rites for Sugumar (as they are awaiting) a second autopsy by an independent forensic pathologist,” he said, while carrying a candle to mark the one month anniversary of the victim’s death.

“All Prime Minister Najib Razak has to do is allow (Thailand’s) Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand to come to Malaysia to carry out the autopsy,” he added, all the while under the watchful eyes of a few Special Branch officers who were busy recording his speech.

“We want to make sure his is the last death in custody case. That is why we are going on this nationwide tour so that Sugumar will get the justice he deserves. Action must be taken on the perpetrators,” he said.

Despite PKR’s insistence, Najib has denied preventing Pornthip from coming to Malaysia for the autopsy, describing the allegations as “fairy tales”.

Surendran was accompanied by PKR legal bureau chief Latheefa Koya, Pantai Jerejak assemblyperson Sim Tze Tzin and Pemantau representative and Bersih committee member Toh Kin Woon.
'Giving cops bad name'

Former army officer Azizan Salleh who represents the NGO Kerabat said he felt sad over Sugumar’s case as such cases should not be happening in a develop country like Malaysia.

“There are international (laws) where  even in times of war, we cannot torture our prisoners. But here, there have been too many cases,” he said.

“Yes, there are those in the force, police who are professional, but there are also some bad apples. We really sympathise with Sugumar’s family.

“In Islam, we cannot do such a thing. Whoever did it - don't you realise you will have to face Allah?

“The consequence for your action is hell. Those who did it have really brought ill repute to the police,” said Azizan.

Pantai Jerejak assemblyperson Sim Tze Tzin said everyone, including Sugumar’s family have the right to know how and why he died such a tragic death.

“There are many of such cases, even in Penang. Many families do not dare come out to voice their grievances, so the cases are left unresolved,” he said.

“There are many policemen who are good but there are also irresponsible ones,” he added, referring to the most recent death in custody case of Cheah Chin Lee, who died in a police lockup in Tanjung Tokong after spending 20 minutes there.
Cops keep distance
Meanwhile, in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur, about 50 people held a smaller candlelight vigil to raise awareness about Sugumar’s death.

PKR information bureau member K Gunasekaran told Malaysiakini that the crowd gathered for an hour and half from 8.30pm.

"We walked towards the nearby shops and raised awareness on (the case of) Sugumar," he said.

He said 10 policemen were spotted at the scene but they did not intervene.
In the incident last month, four police officers were alleged to have chased, handcuffed and then smeared turmeric powder on Sugumar's face, before beating him to death along with a mob at Taman Pekaka, Hulu Langat.
Several eyewitnesses claimed to have witnessed the events, but their statements had not been taken when the police declared the case 'sudden death'.
Additional reporting by Lu Wei Hoong.