KUALA LUMPUR – In light of seven reported deaths in police custody barely two months into 2022, a total of 50 civil rights and political groups have handed over a memorandum to police demanding for transparent investigations into their deaths.
Supported by organisations such as Suara Rakyat Malaysia, Undi18, Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM), Muda, and the Universiti Malaya Students’ Union, the document was handed over to personnel at the Bukit Aman district police headquarters earlier today.
It also pressed for the need to establish in-house health facilities in every police detention centre and the election of an independent body to investigate the recent cases of custodial deaths.
“The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) has, as of now, failed to disclose important details pertaining to the victims such as their names, their mental and physical state prior to being arrested and throughout the duration of their detention, and the autopsy results.
“These details are important to determine the cause of death and whether elements of crime, misconduct, or negligence had played a part in their demise,” said the group in a joint press statement.
They also pointed out that such details will allow for further action to be taken on officers who may have gone against their codes of work ethics and violated human rights.
The group also questioned whether PDRM and the relevant authorities had taken steps to contact and advise family members of the victims on the ensuing steps needed to begin investigations.
“If PDRM, prosecutors, and the Home Affairs Ministry fail to conduct an inquest on the cases of custodial deaths, then their lack of action can be seen as a contempt of court,” said the statement.
It then cited Practice Direction No. 2 of 2019 by then chief justice Tun Richard Malanjum that came into force on March 8, 2019 which states that all inquests into deaths in custody must be completed within six months.
The groups further expressed doubts over the announcement made by Standards Compliance Department director Datuk Azri Ahmad, who had stated that only one out of the seven custodial deaths involved elements of crime.
“The investigation was conducted by the police force themselves and not by an independent third party, and considering the perception of PDRM, which tends to defend the image of police, the credibility of their report is reasonably questionable.”
The groups also lambasted the Independent Police Conduct Commission Bill as being “regressive” and doomed to fail due to its limited powers.
It called the bill out for lacking the power to conduct search and seizures, surprise visits to lockups and detention centres, limited powers to access documents and evidence, and only granting the authority to conduct such investigations when the nation’s safety and importance is threatened.
“As such, we stress once again that the government must retract the IPCC Bill and instead ensure the establishment of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC),” they said, adding that public trust towards PDRM will be restored with the existence of the IPCMC. – The Vibes, February 11, 2022
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