Full investigations underway into each case, says Bukit Aman on recent number of custodial deaths

KUALA LUMPUR: Following a recent spate of deaths in custody, Bukit Aman says it has launched full investigations into each case.

Federal Integrity and Standards Compliance Department (JIPS) director Comm Datuk Azri Ahmad said that comprehensive investigations are being conducted for all seven deaths in police custody this year so far nationwide, including post-mortems to identify the exact cause of death.

“Each (death) has its own circumstances. If we take for example the incident in Kuala Kangsar, we had only just arrested the suspect after he had attacked his father and was subdued by him and others but he passed away not long after and was not in lockup.

“We have doctors who confirm the cause of death via post-mortem and many of have shown a history of illnesses,” he said.

The incident in Kuala Kangsar involved a 38-year-old man, believed to be suffering from mental health issues, who ran amok and attacked his father on Jan 29.

Comm Azri said the man was being restrained by four men, including the suspect's father when police arrived.

"A scuffle ensued when he was being restrained then and after his arrest, the suspect was brought to the Kuala Kangsar Hospital for treatment.

"However he lost consciousness while en route to the hospital and was pronounced dead by medical officers there," he said.

Another death in custody involved a foreign detainee at Kajang Hospital on Wednesday (Feb 2).

Comm Azri said the Myanmar national was sent to the hospital on Monday (Jan 31) at about 8.10am after complaining that he was not feeling well, after which he was admitted for further treatment.

"The hospital informed police that the detainee died on Wednesday (Feb 2) and the cause of death was still undetermined.

"On Jan 30, at about 5.30 pm, a local man had surrendered the foreigner to the Kajang district police headquarters on suspicion of motorcycle theft," he said.

Comm Azri said that police would be addressing the issue of recent custodial deaths directly with the media soon via a press conference.