Cops: Probe shows inmate fell in toilet, not beaten up

BUTTERWORTH: The injuries sustained by an inmate in Seberang Prai Prison Complex in Sungai Jawi was due to a fall and not abuse by prison warders as claimed by the family.

Initial investigation showed Chandran Muniandy, 42, had fallen in a toilet in the prison and was not beaten up as alleged, said south Seberang Prai OCPD Supt Shafee Abdul Samad.

“He injured his head in the fall.His toenails were removed in the prison clinic due to a skin disease,” he said, adding that Chandran is a psychiatric patient.

Supt Shafee was commenting on an online news portal which reported that Chandran could have been abused by prison wardens.

His condition has been described as serious.

His mother Pachaee Pakiry, 58, made a police report on Saturday, alleging that her son was beaten up in the prison.

The odd-job labourer has been warded at the intensive care unit (ICU) of Seberang Jaya Hospital since Wednesday.

On Jan 20, police picked him up under Section 324 of the Penal Code for causing hurt with a dangerous weapon.

Penang Prison director Senior Asst Comm Kamarudzaman Mamat said Chandran was in solitary confinement due to mental instability.

“He was undergoing psychiatric evaluation.

“There was no way he could have been beaten up by other prisoners or warders as he was not in contact with any of them during the solitary confinement and evaluation,” he said.

SAC Kamarudzaman said they had since started a domestic inquiry besides the police investigation.

Both DAP and MIC have called for an investigation into the matter, which came hot on the heels of the death of detainee S. Balamurugan at the North Klang district police headquarters on Feb 8.