Four deaths in custody in Penang since January

 

The Penang Taskforce on Custodial Deaths is shocked that there have been four deaths in police custody in the state since January, bringing the average to two cases a month.

This number very high, compared with the total number of cases in Penang last year, which was seven,  Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy said today.

Ramasamy said a meeting would be held soon with Penang police chief Abdul Rahim Hanafi, as the current situation was "alarming".

"The situation is disturbing. We can write to the Attorney-General's Chambers or talk to the police, but we don't see a decline in death-in-custody cases.

"We are also not sure of the reasons for the deaths, since the deaths must be accompanied by a coroner's report.

"We are not prepared just to listen to police," Ramasamy told reporters at a press conference in Komtar today.

The DAP Prai assemblyperson said the taskforce met with Abdul Rahim (left) last Thursday, during the state's security meeting with the police.

He said Abdul Rahim has agreed to meet with the Taskforce on Custodial Deaths and the date, time and place of meeting would be decided soon.

State executive council member Jagdeep Singh Deo said the taskforce would also insist that the police provide the coroner's reports on the deaths.

"It is required by law that the coroner probes and issue a report on deaths in custody.

"The taskforce will also step up its awareness and education programmes with NGOs and the police to prevent more of such incidents, as well as push for action be taken on those involved in the deaths," Jagdeep, who is also Dato Keramat assemblyperson, said.

First death involved African national

Ramasamy, Jagdeep and Dr Afif Bahardin are the three state executive council members who are heading the taskforce formed by the Penang government last year to monitor rising cases of custodial deaths in the state.

The four cases this year involved African national Phil Pott, 63, who died in the Penang Hospital (GH) on Jan 18 of alleged heart complications.

Pott was detained in the Penang Prison for drug offences.

The second case involved a man, known only as Fahruz, 28, who also died in the Penang Hospital on Jan 22 from alleged lung infection.

Fahrun, too, was detained in the Penang Prison, for drug offences.

Sharam Hassan, 45, is the third custodial death case in the Penang. He died at the same hospital on on Jan 26, from alleged perforated duodenal ulcer with septic shock.

Sharam was found to have bottle marks on his body, with bruises on his back and abdomen, and is believed to have been physically abused prior to his death.

The fourth custodial death in Penang is that of K Elumalai, 43, who died in the Sungai Bakap Hospital on Feb 18.

He had been sentenced to 10 years in prison for drug-related offences. Elumalai died 20 minutes after he was sent to the hospital and the cause of his death is not known.