Custodial death cases will not be solved by merely having CCTVs, says PKR's N Surendran and Latheefa Koya.
PETALING JAYA: PKR leaders N Surendran and Latheefa Koya have panned the government’s plan to install closed-circuit TV (CCTV) cameras in police stations, saying it will not resolve death in custody cases.
On Tuesday, Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi stated that the ministry plans to install CCTVs in police lock-ups to enhance detention procedures, in the wake of the latest death in custody case.
“The home minister is playing dumb,” said Surendran, who is also the lawyer representing the family of N Dhamendran, 32, who died in custody on May 11.
“He should first answer whether the proposal to have CCTVs installed in police stations was implemented or not.
“Even so, custodial death cases would not be solved by merely having CCTVs. Instead, immediate action must be taken, to arrest and charge those involved,” added the PKR vice-president.
Instead of talking about CCTVs, Surendran said the authorities must do the necessary, which was to arrest the culprits.
“And before talking about CCTVs again, can the government explain why those previous proposals [on installing CCTVS] came to nothing?” he added.
Modernise investigation methods
Similarly, Latheefa said that the issue was not about the number of CCTVs, but accountability.
“What is more important is to arrest and charge those who did it and not cover up. That would put a stop to using torture as a way to interrogate,” added the PKR central leadership council member.
Latheefa, who is a lawyer, also stressed on the importance of modernising investigation techniques.
“It should not be the old fashion way of beating and threatening suspects. Also, investigating officers must be properly trained. Ultimately, no amount of CCTVs would help if there’s no accountability as footage can be easily erased,” she said.
DAP’s Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng on the other hand stressed on the need for CCTVs to be installed in interrogation rooms in police stations.
“I recall there was a plan by the government a few years ago, to install CCTVs in interrogation rooms at police stations to ensure all investigations are done properly. But since then, we don’t know what was the outcome of the proposal,” he said.
In view of this, Lim said CCTVs must be installed not only in police lock-ups, but all interrogation rooms as well.
“Also, CCTVs must be installed at the entrances too, to see who goes in and out of the police stations,” he said.
In 2009, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Mohd Bakri Zinin, who was then the federal CID director, announced that the police would install CCTVs in interrogation rooms at all police stations.
He said that the installation would be done in stages, with state police headquarters and district headquarters as priority areas.
PETALING JAYA: PKR leaders N Surendran and Latheefa Koya have panned the government’s plan to install closed-circuit TV (CCTV) cameras in police stations, saying it will not resolve death in custody cases.On Tuesday, Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi stated that the ministry plans to install CCTVs in police lock-ups to enhance detention procedures, in the wake of the latest death in custody case.
“The home minister is playing dumb,” said Surendran, who is also the lawyer representing the family of N Dhamendran, 32, who died in custody on May 11.
“He should first answer whether the proposal to have CCTVs installed in police stations was implemented or not.
“Even so, custodial death cases would not be solved by merely having CCTVs. Instead, immediate action must be taken, to arrest and charge those involved,” added the PKR vice-president.
Instead of talking about CCTVs, Surendran said the authorities must do the necessary, which was to arrest the culprits.
“And before talking about CCTVs again, can the government explain why those previous proposals [on installing CCTVS] came to nothing?” he added.
Modernise investigation methods
Similarly, Latheefa said that the issue was not about the number of CCTVs, but accountability.
“What is more important is to arrest and charge those who did it and not cover up. That would put a stop to using torture as a way to interrogate,” added the PKR central leadership council member.
Latheefa, who is a lawyer, also stressed on the importance of modernising investigation techniques.
“It should not be the old fashion way of beating and threatening suspects. Also, investigating officers must be properly trained. Ultimately, no amount of CCTVs would help if there’s no accountability as footage can be easily erased,” she said.
DAP’s Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng on the other hand stressed on the need for CCTVs to be installed in interrogation rooms in police stations.
“I recall there was a plan by the government a few years ago, to install CCTVs in interrogation rooms at police stations to ensure all investigations are done properly. But since then, we don’t know what was the outcome of the proposal,” he said.
In view of this, Lim said CCTVs must be installed not only in police lock-ups, but all interrogation rooms as well.
“Also, CCTVs must be installed at the entrances too, to see who goes in and out of the police stations,” he said.
In 2009, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Mohd Bakri Zinin, who was then the federal CID director, announced that the police would install CCTVs in interrogation rooms at all police stations.
He said that the installation would be done in stages, with state police headquarters and district headquarters as priority areas.
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