Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng today met with family members of the 36-year-old man who died after just 20 minutes in a lock-up in Tanjong Tokong police station two days ago.
Lim said this was the first time since 2008 such an incident has happened and the state government viewed it seriously.
He urged the police to look into the matter and leave no stones unturned, saying the family of furniture shop worker Cheah Chin Lee wants the matter to be investigated thoroughly.
He added the state would arrange a meeting with senior members of the police force to get to the bottom of the incident as he smells something "fishy" in how Cheah was found dead.
"Cheah was only 20 minutes in the lock-up and he was found hanging from the window grills in his detention garments. The grills are quite highly placed. I know because I have been in a cell before," Lim said.
"We also want to see the truth behind this case and hope that appropriate action be taken on those responsible for Cheah's death," stressed Lim, who is also DAP's secretary general, at a press conference today.
Cheah was arrested at about 12am on Aug 13, on suspicion of car theft.
He was taken to the Jalan Pattani Northeast police headquarters at 2am for urine test and was sent back to Tanjung Tokong at 5am.
He was later found dead, hanging from his cell window grills, at about 5.20am.
Cheah's family refused to accept the one-line post-mortem report which stated that he died from "aphysxia due to hanging".
Cheah's three brothers-in-law - See Teik Leong, 52, Yong Yeok Hoong, 42 and Looi Chooi Aik, 45 - were present at the meeting held in Komtar.
They came to meet Lim after conducting Cheah's funeral earlier this morning, while Lim extended his condolences to the family.
Lim was accompanied by his deputies Mansor Othmand and P Ramasamy, state executive councillors Abdul Malik Abul Kassim, Chow Kon Yeow, Lydia Ong and Wong Hon Wai.
Looi, who lodged a police report at the Jalan Pattani Northeast police headquarters yesterday, said the family wants police investigation to be transparent.
"We want the truth that leads to the circumtances of our brother-in-law's demise," said Looi, who is a training manager.
State 'Happy' housing programme
Meanwhile on a separate matter, Lim announced at the press conference earlier that 501 religious school teachers and 307 teachers in Chinese independent schools in the state would be receiving a contribution of RM200 each for the Hari Raya festivities.
The money would be handed over to the teachers in Nibong Tebal and Kubang Semang tomorrow, while teachers in Penang would receive their money on Friday.
Lim also announced that RM50 million would be set aside to fund low and medium-cost homes which required upgrading and maintenance.
About 650 homes would benefit from the state's initiative, dubbed ‘Housing Assistance Programme of Penang, Yes!’ (Happy).
Lim said this was the first time since 2008 such an incident has happened and the state government viewed it seriously.He urged the police to look into the matter and leave no stones unturned, saying the family of furniture shop worker Cheah Chin Lee wants the matter to be investigated thoroughly.
He added the state would arrange a meeting with senior members of the police force to get to the bottom of the incident as he smells something "fishy" in how Cheah was found dead.
"Cheah was only 20 minutes in the lock-up and he was found hanging from the window grills in his detention garments. The grills are quite highly placed. I know because I have been in a cell before," Lim said.
"We also want to see the truth behind this case and hope that appropriate action be taken on those responsible for Cheah's death," stressed Lim, who is also DAP's secretary general, at a press conference today.
'Death due to hanging'?
He was taken to the Jalan Pattani Northeast police headquarters at 2am for urine test and was sent back to Tanjung Tokong at 5am.
He was later found dead, hanging from his cell window grills, at about 5.20am.
Cheah's family refused to accept the one-line post-mortem report which stated that he died from "aphysxia due to hanging".
Cheah's three brothers-in-law - See Teik Leong, 52, Yong Yeok Hoong, 42 and Looi Chooi Aik, 45 - were present at the meeting held in Komtar.
They came to meet Lim after conducting Cheah's funeral earlier this morning, while Lim extended his condolences to the family.
Lim was accompanied by his deputies Mansor Othmand and P Ramasamy, state executive councillors Abdul Malik Abul Kassim, Chow Kon Yeow, Lydia Ong and Wong Hon Wai.
Looi, who lodged a police report at the Jalan Pattani Northeast police headquarters yesterday, said the family wants police investigation to be transparent.
"We want the truth that leads to the circumtances of our brother-in-law's demise," said Looi, who is a training manager.
State 'Happy' housing programme
Meanwhile on a separate matter, Lim announced at the press conference earlier that 501 religious school teachers and 307 teachers in Chinese independent schools in the state would be receiving a contribution of RM200 each for the Hari Raya festivities.
The money would be handed over to the teachers in Nibong Tebal and Kubang Semang tomorrow, while teachers in Penang would receive their money on Friday.
Lim also announced that RM50 million would be set aside to fund low and medium-cost homes which required upgrading and maintenance.
About 650 homes would benefit from the state's initiative, dubbed ‘Housing Assistance Programme of Penang, Yes!’ (Happy).
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