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We have every right to discuss deaths in custody, MP tells Gombak police chief

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Charles Santiago says Indians are disproportionately dying in custody and Malaysians want to know the truth.

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Free Malaysia Today
Klang MP Charles Santiago has told Gombak police chief Arifai Tarawe not to make conclusions on A Ganapathy’s death without a proper investigation or inquest.

PETALING JAYA:
The public has the right to discuss any issue that affects them, especially deaths in custody which seem to occur “once too often”, said Klang MP Charles Santiago.

Slamming Gombak district police chief Arifai Tarawe for warning the public against commenting on the case of A Ganapathy dying while in police custody, Santiago asked what else could the people do.

“Indians are disproportionately dying in police custody. And there are just one too many sticking points surrounding Ganapathy’s death.

“We don’t even know why he was detained in the first place. If anything, this case reeks of abuse of police powers. We need to know the truth.

“The police need to know they won’t get away with assaulting detainees,” he said in a statement today.

Ganapathy died at the Selayang Hospital on April 18, just over a month after he was warded.

His family’s lawyer had said the pathologist had confirmed he died as a result of injuries on his legs and shoulders while in police custody.

According to previous reports, Ganapathy’s mother, S Thanaletchumy, said her son was arrested on Feb 24 to assist the police in an investigation involving one of his brothers.

Thanaletchumy claimed Ganapathy was in relatively good health despite suffering from diabetes. She also said her son had informed her that he had been beaten with a rubber hose by the police.

On Arifai’s claim that there was no evidence that the victim died due to assault while under police custody, the DAP MP reminded him that there is also no evidence to show it did not happen.

“An inquest hearing is therefore imminent to determine how Ganapathy died and the role played by the police, if any.

“While Arifai denies assault, Ganapathy’s mum alleges her son told her he was beaten by the police.

“Her account can’t be dismissed either, without any proper investigation.”

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