KUALA LUMPUR – Human rights NGO Eliminating Deaths and Abuse In Custody Together (Edict) claimed that a detainee died in police custody at the Kota Baru police district lockup on Tuesday.
In a statement today, the NGO claimed that the victim, detained a few days ago, had been beaten badly by police, leading to his death.
“Edict however failed to get full cooperation from police when trying to obtain more information on the case.”
The NGO expressed its extreme disappointment with numerous cases of abuse and death under custody that have been occurring frequently, especially in Kelantan.
“On November 12, Edict released a statement regarding a detainee named Syafriezan, who had nearly been beaten to death by police at the Bachok police district headquarters in Kelantan.
“Four days later, a death in custody occurred following extreme measures taken by police,” it stated.
The NGO said it hoped that the Kelantan police headquarters would take serious, fair, and equitable action in curtailing the culture of beating detainees to death.
“Edict also calls upon the government to accelerate the implementation of an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission, instead of the Independent Police Complaints Commission, so that cases involving misuse of power by police can be investigated independently and fairly by a non-partisan body,” it said. – The Vibes, November 19, 2021