Cops close case on convict abuse claim

Crushing piracy: Comm Chuah driving a steamroller to destroy 481,000 fake and pornographic discs at a ceremony at the police headquarters.

KEPALA BATAS: The case of convict Chandran Muniandy whose mother claimed was beaten up by prison warders has been given NFA (no further action) status by the Deputy Public Prosecutor’s Office.

Penang police chief Comm Datuk Wira Chuah Ghee Lye said the DPP’s Office made the decision after receiving the investigation papers last Friday.

“However, apart from the police, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia and the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission also carried out investigations and we are waiting for their reports,” Comm Chuah said after a ceremony to destroy 481,000 pirated and pornographic VCDs and DVDs at the north Seberang Prai district police headquarters here yesterday.

He said police launched a probe following a report by Chandran’s mother that her son was abused by warders at the Seberang Prai Prison Complex in Sungai Jawi.

He added that statements were taken from 21 people in the probe which started on Feb 11 and lasted two weeks.

They were warders and other inmates as well as medical officers from the prison and the hospital where Chandran, 42, was brought for treatment.

He said investigations by medical officers revealed that Chandran’s injuried were from a fall.

South Seberang Prai OCPD Supt Shafee Abdul Samad had earlier said Chandran injured his head when he fell in a toilet in prison and was not beaten up as alleged while his toenails were removed due to a skin disease.

He had also said Chandran was a psychiatric patient.

Chandran, an odd-job labourer who is serving six months in prison from Jan 20 for causing hurt with a dangerous weapon, was admitted to the Seberang Jaya Hospital after the incident.