The Inspector General of Police must break his silence over the death of S. Balamurugan who died whilst in police custody.
The officer who applied for remand and those present at the time the deceased was produced before the Magistrate should be hauled up immediately and asked to explain.
The officer in charge of the police station where Balamurugan was held must also be hauled up for an explanation. He is responsible for the safety of persons detained in his police station. Were there injuries on Balamurugan as claimed? If so, how did such injuries come about and was anything done about it?
I call upon the Attorney-General to take a personal interest in this case and to ensure that those responsible be brought to book.
It is trite that an inquest is required in cases where there are deaths in custody and where the cause of death and circumstances leading to death need to be ascertained. Section 339 of the Criminal Procedure Code is clear on this. It is the Public Prosecutor who is duty bound to direct that such an inquest be held.
This is a serious matter. I will as Member of Parliament, raise it in Parliament next month. The Home Ministry must be prepared with answers. They must tell us what happened in this case and what action has been taken to deal with it.
They must also tell us why, despite all that they say they have done to arrest the problem, deaths in custody still occur here in Malaysia.