PETALING JAYA: Five wardens from Taiping Prison will be charged at a Taiping Magistrate's Court on Friday (July 3) with causing injuries to inmates in an incident in January 2025 that also claimed the life of a detainee.
Criminal Investigation Department director Comm Datuk M. Kumar said the charges followed a comprehensive police investigation into the incident.
"A total of five Taiping Prison wardens will be charged over injuries suffered by three victims. The charges will be brought on Friday, July 3, at 9am at a Taiping Magistrate's Court in Perak," he said in a statement on Thursday (July 2).
Comm Kumar said the investigation papers had been referred to the Attorney General's Chambers and were returned on June 29 with instructions for the five wardens to be charged under various provisions of the Penal Code.
He said one warden will face a charge under Section 323 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt. Upon conviction, the offence carries a jail term of up to one year, a fine of up to RM2,000, or both.
Two other wardens will be jointly charged under Section 323 read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt with common intention. The offence carries the same penalty of up to one year's imprisonment, a fine of up to RM2,000, or both upon conviction.
Another two wardens will face a charge under Section 324 read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt with common intention using a weapon.
If convicted, they face up to 10 years' imprisonment, a fine, whipping, or any two of the punishments.
Earlier, on Dec 19, 2025, a prison warden was charged at the Taiping Magistrate's Court under Section 304(b) of the Penal Code for culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
The offence carries a maximum jail term of 10 years, a fine, or both upon conviction.
Comm Kumar urged the public not to speculate or manipulate the facts, as criminal proceedings are about to begin and should be allowed to proceed in accordance with the principles of criminal justice.
On May 25, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia called for immediate disciplinary action against the Taiping Prison officers involved in last year's violence, rejecting claims that such action would amount to "double jeopardy".
The commission stressed that a zero-tolerance policy must be enforced against any misconduct, abuse of power or violation of the law within the service.
