Special unit set up to probe custodial deaths
KUALA LUMPUR: Police will set up a special unit to probe into custodial deaths, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin.
The Criminal Investigation Unit on Deaths in Custody will be staffed by 12 police personnel and a civilian.
“This unit will begin operation on Jan 1, headed by a police superintendent. All deaths involving detainees will be handled by this unit.
“This is the outcome of taking into account people’s voices on wanting thorough investigations into custodial deaths.
“We believe this unit will boost the image and integrity of the police force in resolving serious issues such as these.”
Hamzah said this after the launching ceremony for the Home Minister’s 100-Day Aspirasi Keluarga Malaysia at the Kuala Lumpur Police Training
Centre yesterday.
Present were Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani, Deputy InspectorGeneral of Police Datuk Seri Mazlan Lazim, as well as ministry secretary-general Datuk Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz.
Hamzah said the unit would focus on three aspects, firstly, criminal liability that would involve transparent investigations, detection and criminal element involvement.
The second focus, he said, would be on duty of care, whereby the unit will probe into cases involving omissions, as well as negligence committed by police officers.
Thirdly, the unit would look into the standard operating procedure and compliance with instructions, he added.
He denied that there were racial elements involved in custodial deaths.
Hamzah added from 2015 to now, 82 deaths in lock-ups had been reported, with the victims comprising 42 Malays, 13 Chinese, 15 Indians and 12 foreigners.
“These deaths are inevitable as people have underlying health issues, such as high-blood pressure, when they are under detention.”
He said the ministry was holding discussions with the Finance Ministry to get allocations so that people under arrest could be sent to private clinics for health checks before being taken to lockups.
“They can now be examined only by medical officers from the Health Ministry, and this causes delays because of the high number of detainees.”
Earlier, in his speech at the ceremony, he said the pioneer project of allowing General Operations Force security control posts in Sabah and Sarawak to function as police stations would be extended nationwide within six months.
Nine security control posts in Sabah and two in Sarawak were
involved in the project.
“These 11 control posts can receive police reports, as well as reports on deaths and births, to make it easier for people living in the interior, who previously had to travel five hours to get to a police station.”