KUALA LUMPUR: The Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) has commenced a probe into the Feb 25 death of M. Thanaseelan at the Bukit Sentosa police station lockup in Hulu Selangor.
The 43-year-old’s demise comes on the heels of two other deaths in custody in just over a month – Soh Kai Chiok, at the Bera district police headquarters in Pahang on Jan 18; and S. Balamurugan at the Klang Utara district police headquarters in Selangor on Feb 8.
In a statement today, EAIC chairman Datuk Yaacob Md Sam said Thanaseelan had been arrested with two other men at about 2am on Feb 22 on suspicion of committing trespass or ‘breaking and entering’ – an offense under Section 457 of the Penal Code.
“On Feb 24, he complained of a stomach ache and was taken by police to the Kuala Kubu Bharu Hospital for treatment. (He) was later taken back to the lockup...
“At about 1.50am on Feb 25, Thanaseelan was found unconscious in the lockup and was confirmed dead by the assistant medical officer on duty.
“Checks were carried out on his body by the coroner at about 7.50am before he was taken to the Sungai Buloh Hospital at about 11.20am the same day,” Yaacob said, adding that a post-mortem was undertaken yesterday by the hospital.
He said the EAIC has set up a team of investigators to probe the death, in line with the powers provided for under the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) Act 2009.
The scope and terms of reference of the investigation are to ascertain any wrongdoings, as provided for under Section 24 of the Act, including acts by the police which are criminal in nature, when handling the detainee and relating to the death of the detainee.
If a wrongdoing is identified, he said the EAIC will then determine and ascertain how and why it happened, and the laws, regulations, rules, standard operating procedures (SOPs) and standing instructions in relation to the management and handling of detainees that have been breached.
Also to be determined by the Commission is the individual responsible for the wrongdoing or criminal act.
“The Commission views this incident seriously, more so (as it follows) the deaths of Soh and Balamurugan in the Bera and Klang Utara district police headquarters.
“In the latest development for both cases – the statements of 53 witnesses have been recorded by the EAIC investigation team in Soh’s case; while 47 witnesses have had their statements recorded in Balamurugan’s case.
“The EAIC stresses that investigations will be done comprehensively, transparently and without prejudice and not favouring anyone. Deaths in custody are incidents very much regretted and to be avoided,” he added.