ALOR STAR – Police are conducting a thorough investigation into the death of a detainee in a Yan police headquarters lock-up on January 28.
State police chief Datuk Hasanuddin Hassan in a statement last night said the investigation will determine whether there is any element of violence, negligence or misconduct by officers, as well as possibility of injury during the arrest.
“To date, statements have been taken from 47 witnesses, including family members, as well as police personnel involved in the arrest and ones manning the lock-up.
“Others are detainees who were in same the cell, as well as medical officers from Yan Hospital and Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital here.”
He said the detainee, Muhammad Afis Ahmad, was arrested on January 27 under Sections 379 and 170 of the Penal Code in connection with theft and impersonating a police officer.
Hasanuddin said during the arrest, Afis had put up a struggle, which caused him to suffer injuries to the face, forehead and ear.
He was later taken to his house in Kg Kilang Papan, Gurun for further investigation, and officers conducted an inspection of the house witnessed by his family members.
“No seizure was made during the inspection, and Afis was handed over to Yan police headquarters for further action and subsequently taken to the lock-up for remand the next day.
“At 12.30am on January 28, he was found unconscious and sent to Yan Hospital. At 1.10am the same day, he was pronounced dead.”
Hasanuddin said a post-mortem conducted the following day revealed that Afis had died due to blunt force trauma to the head.
He said the deceased used to serve as a volunteer police at Kuala Muda police headquarters between 2013 and 2014, but was dismissed for his alleged involvement in drugs.
“The deceased had also been detained eight times for drug and criminal offences, and sentenced by the court.” – Bernama, February 5, 2021
