KUALA LUMPUR – Bekok assemblyman S. Ramakrishnan is calling for independent investigations into fatalities in custody on the heels of the death of 21-year-old Surendran Shanker.
This is the third death that has occurred in police custody in the last two months.
A. Ganapathy, a milk trader, died in Gombak police custody on April 18. Security guard S. Sivabalan had also on May 20, died in custody at the same station.
Surendran was detained in June last year over drug charges in Petaling Jaya and was sent to a rehabilitation centre in Muar last August. He was then transferred to Simpang Renggam prison on April 25.
After allegedly developing severe abdominal pain, he was admitted to Kluang Hospital on Tuesday morning.
Based on medical reports, Surendran’s death was due to “septic shock with multiple organ failure”.
“These are the most recent police custodial deaths that have no independent investigations on the circumstances of death and nobody is being held responsible for their deaths,” said Ramakrishnan.
Ramakrishnan, who is also Johor Unity, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman, said calls to set up the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) have fallen on deaf ears.
“If the circumstances and persons responsible for the deaths are not investigated, how is it possible to prevent the recurrence of more deaths in police custody?
“Police stations seem to be the most unsafe place for detainees before they are even proven guilty in the courts.
“Even though there have been numerous deaths in police custody, the police force does not see the need for independent investigations into the cause of death to maintain their reputation and integrity.
“The police must ensure that detainees are safely produced in court for further sentencing. The police cannot act as a judge and take the law into their own hands.”
The government and police force have done little to fix the lack of transparency in their investigative methods and procedures, he added.
“The present government seems to be indifferent by not taking any action to investigate the cause of all these deaths, which has been occurring too frequently, and for no apparent reason.
“The police should develop a minimum standard operating procedure should there be a death in custody to reflect their professionalism in their job.”
Ramakrishnan said the public must keep up pressure on the government to be more accountable so as to eliminate such deaths in custody.
“It is the government’s responsibility to ensure that the police do not take the law into their own hands. Today’s small mistakes can lead to bigger scandals tomorrow, and the cost to society at large will be colossal. Let us be humble to learn the lessons.” – The Vibes, May 28, 2021
