Police deny foul play in detainee's death

 

The police have denied allegations that foul play was involved in the death of a 25-year old detainee in Pengerang, Johor recently.

Instead, Johor CID chief Hasnan Hassan said it was sudden death.

Syed Mohd Azlan Syed Mohamad Nur died while being transferred from the Sungai Rengit police station to the Kota Tinggi police headquarters.

The deceased's family yesterday claimed that the unemployed youth's body was covered in bruises and "hole shaped puncture marks".

Hasnan (left), however, alleged that Syed Mohd Azlan was a drug addict with prior criminal records and sustained injuries when resisting arrest.

He was arrested in Kg Simon, Pengerang, at 3.30am on Nov 3, on suspicion of being involved in an armed riot with seven others at Kota Tinggi on Sept 19.

The police believe that Syed Mohd Azlan had brandished a gun during the incident, in which two people were seriously injured.

"When the arrest was being carried out, the deceased (Syed Mohd Azlan) acted aggressively to escape. This caused a struggle between the deceased and the police.

"A police report has been lodged regarding the arrest and the injuries sustained by the deceased and police," Hasnan said in a statement late last night.

Syed Mohd Azlan was then brought to the Sungai Rengit police station for further investigations.

Police then claimed that he had trouble breathing while being transferred to Kota Tinggi, and was rushed to the Bandar Penawar Clinic where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

"A post mortem was carried out at the Sultan Ismail Hospital in Johor Bahru. The investigation has been classified as 'sudden death'," Hasnan said.

Brother: Why wasn't he treated earlier?

Commenting on the police’s response, the deceased’s brother Syed Mohd Shariff  questioned why Syed Mohd Azlan did not get medical attention earlier.

"He (Syed Mohd Azlan) had difficulty breathing since 5am.

"The Sungai Rengit clinic is just a few meters away from the police station. If he was injured, he should have been treated first," he said in text message to Malaysiakini.

The unemployed youth's father, Syed Mohamad Nur Ali, had lodged a police report over the death, and the police said that an investigation would be launched.

The 67-year-old farmer also claimed that when policemen questioned him in connection with his son's arrest, they had threatened him with a gun.

The police are also waiting for the full results of the post-mortem as well as the chemist report, before submitting their investigation report to the deputy public prosecutor.