Police custodial deaths: 95% due to natural causes says Deputy IGP

KUALA LUMPUR: There were total of 51 deaths in police custody from 2010 to 2014, with 95% of the deaths due to natural causes, said Datuk Seri Noor Rashid Ibrahim (pic).

‎The deputy Inspector-General of Police said that most of the deaths were due to illnesses such as heart attacks, jaundice, ulcers, lung and liver diseases.

He added that of the 51 cases, only one was due to police misconduct.

"We have already taken action against the police officer and I understand that the trial is ongoing," he told reporters after a meeting with the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) leadership at the Bukit Aman police headquarters on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, EAIC chairman Datuk Yaacob Md Sam said matters that were discussed during the meeting included the EAIC's expectations of the police standard operating procedure (SOP) for detainees.

‎"Police should have a comprehensive SOP so that the rights of detainees are upheld," he said, adding that the state of lock-ups need to be improved as well as to ensure that detainees are given proper medical care and food to reduce the number of deaths in detention.