They said the cause of death of the detainee – the 15th person to die in custody this year – has yet to be ascertained and samples have been taken to the laboratory for further analysis.

“The inmate’s death has been classified as ‘sudden death’,” Bukit Aman’s integrity and standards compliance department (JIPS) director Azri Ahmad said in a statement today.

He said the police’s criminal investigation unit on deaths in custody will carry on the investigations before handing over its findings to the coroner.

Azri had said yesterday the 45-year-old detainee was “seen to be having seizures” by personnel on duty at the Kajang police station lock-up.

He died on the way to hospital.

The detainee had been charged under Section 12(2) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and was being kept at the lock-up before being sent to the Satelit Beranang police station to be remanded.