Another Dead In Custody - P Karuna Nithi

Engineer P Karuna Nithi has become the third person to die in police custody in less than two weeks. The family was informed of his death in Tampin last night.

Karuna's family was informed by telephone at 9.45pm yesterday that he had "suddenly died" about 7pm at the Tampin district police headquarters, former Kapar MP S Manikavasagam said today.

Manikavasagam, who accompanied the family to Hospital Tuanku Jaafar in Seremban this morning, said the family found injuries on Karuna's body.

"Only two persons were allowed to see the body. I was not allowed as I am not a family member, so I told the family to check the body.

"The family was not allowed to move the body but there was blood on the tray where the body was placed," Manikavasagam (left) told Malaysiakini when contacted.

Karuna's brother P Ilam said when contacted that he saw bruises on Karuna's arms and blood on his head.

"He was bleeding from the back of his head and there were bruises on his left and right arms.

"The doctor said something may have happened to him in the lock-up but we are not sure what," he said.

Close to 1pm today, Manikavasagam said the post-mortem was still going on and the family would claim the body later today.

"The family will take the body for special prayers tomorrow, outside the police station where Karuna (right) was killed," he said, adding that they will also lodge a police report.

According to Manikavasagam, Karuna had gone to see his estranged wife about their two children and an a scuffle took place.

Karuna later went to lodge a police report on the incident, but was instead arrested by police and remanded for three days.

He was on May 31 charged in the magistrate's court in Tampin with "causing hurt".

"At that time, the family members were there and they said he was in good health when in court," said Manikavasagam.

Karuna was to be out on bail tomorrow

Karuna was granted bail at RM4,000 but was unable to immediately raise the sum.

The family had plan to post bail on Monday but were instead informed of his death last night.

"I call Home Minister Zahid Hamidi (right) to take immediate action. Karuna was a well-educated person, an engineer who had no previous criminal record. It was just a small family dispute.

"Don't let this be another Dhamendran case where those responsible were put on desk duty.

"This is double-standard. When police commit murder they get desk duty but when anybody else is accused of this, they get charged," said Manikavasagam.

Jobless man R Jamesh Ramesh, 40, was found dead in a police station lock-up in Penang on May 26. Police said he died of liver failure.

On May 21, N Dhamendran, 31, was found dead after being remanded at the Kuala Lumpur police contingent headquarters. Police said he died of breathing difficulties.

However, the case was classified as murder after a post-mortem found the body to have been tortured.

The full autopsy report released yesterday revealed Dhamendran suffered 52 injuries, ranging from his body parts being stapled, rattan-like marks throughout his body and even an incomplete number "8" mark on his hip.
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Suspend the Policemen - Dhamendran's Widow

The wife of death in custody victim N Dhamendran is upset that the policemen linked to his death been given desk jobs with suggestions of them being suspended, when they should have been arrested from the beginning.

"They have murdered my husband. They should be in a lock up, not having a desk jobs. They do not deserve it. By right, they should be hung to death,” said S Marry.

"If the public were to kill someone, would they still be walking free? This is the police committing murder," said the teary mother of a two-year old son.
Yesterday Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was tentative with calls for the policemen being probed for the 31-year-old’s death to be suspended from duty instead of being assigned desk jobs, saying it had to be handled delicately lest the police force be demoralised.

Dhamendran had allegedly gone to the police station to lodge a report over a fight, but had ended up being detained and died in custody, initially said to be from breathing difficulties.

However an autopsy at Kuala Lumpur Hospital on May 22 concluded the cause of death as blunt force trauma.

Police have since classified Dhamendran's death as murder under section 302 of the Penal Code.

Marry's call comes after lawyer N Surendran made public Dhamendran's autopsy report at the PKR headquarters this morning, which suggested that he was handcuffed and brutality beaten to death.

Surendran, also the Padang Serai MP, said the police were already aware of Dhamendran's brutal cause of death when they handed over the autopsy report to the family's lawyer at 11am yesterday.

"Based on this report, legally it is adequate evidence to bring murder charges against all the police personnel involved under section 302 of the Penal Code.

"But instead the four personnel are transferred to desk duty, this is a joke... We demand that all the police personnel involved be arrested immediately. I mean today - within the hour," he said
He said under Section 302 of the Penal Code, the accused cannot be granted bail and must be in detention until their trial concludes but yet the culprits were still "walking about freely".

Low adding to family grief

Surendran also described as a lie Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Paul Low's denial of seeking a secret meeting with the deceased's family through Dhamendran's father and claiming it was the family's representative who first sought the meeting.
Surendran confirmed that Dhamendran's father B Naraynasamy who spoke to Low's officer D Ravindran had asked them not to come to their home as emotions were running high, but denied the family engaged the Prime Minister's Department first.

"I am disgusted by Paul Low and his officers. Here is a family in sorrow and they decide to go about casting aspersions on a grieving family.

"Well done Paul Low, if this is the best you can do," he said sarcastically.
When pressed on Low's assertion that he merely wanted to help and his intention for a meeting had been misunderstood, an angry Marry retorted: "We did not misunderstand, it was the person on the phone who misunderstood. If they wanted to help we would've accepted".

"But why did they ask us to meet in secret and ditch our lawyers? That is not helping," she said angrily.

Surendran reiterated his call for an explanation from Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak himself as the call had came from his departmen which had a history of interfering in such cases such as blocking a Thai pathologist from conducting an autopsy in C Sugumar's death in custody case.
He also demanded that Home Minister Zahid Hamidi and inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar explain why Dhamendran's body was stapled repeatedly and riddled with cane marks.

'Apologise to family'
"There has not been a single word of apology to the family, instead they (government) are attacking the family, accusing them of making phone calls (to the Prime Minister's Department).

Surendran also blasted the government for debates over the forming of a panel to oversee death in custody and suggestions to install CCTV when it had yet to address the immediate matter - arresting those responsible.

"These are all distractions from the real matter at hand," he said.

The family's lawyer Michelle Yesudas described the Dhamendran's death as an "execution".

"What we have here is an execution of a person even before he is brought to court.

"Every time the government fails to address death in custody, they are victimising every single victim who dies in custody (after that). We do not want this anymore," she said.


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Beaten to Death In Custody - Suffered 52 injuries.

 

Death in custody victim N Dhamendran was defencelessly beaten to death while handcuffed, suggests the preliminary report of post-mortem examination revealed today.

The written report by forensic pathologist Dr Siew Sheue Feng from Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) concluded that there were no defensive wounds found on Dhamendran’s body.

“It was quite clear that during his beating he was handcuffed, and in a lower position, possibly kneeling or something,” family lawyer N Surendran said at a press conference at PKR HQ today.

Dhamendran had sustained 52 marks of injury throughout his body, ranging from head to toe.

Surendran declared that this was “even worse than A Kugan’s case” in 2009.

According to the autopsy, a group of double ‘tram line' bruises, believed to be from rotan marks, were found in a parallel oblique pattern on his lower back and posterior.

"We can only speculate but these look like rotan marks, or something similar," Surendran said.

A patterned bruise, resembling an incomplete number 8 was found on his hip bone.

There was also another double ‘tram line' bruise on Dhamendran's wrist-hand consistent with handcuff marks.

The autopsy also reported numerous blackened bruises on his face, the chest area, shoulders, legs, scalp and back, which Surendran described as "overlapping bruises".

His abdomen, below the kidney area, loins, and navel also carried similar marks.

'Stapler used as torture instrument'

Both Dhamendran's ears were found with staple wounds with the staples still there while his legs had puncture wounds, also believed to be from staples that had been removed.

"These are consistent staple wounds, and this indicates that they had used a stapler to torture him," Surendran said.

Some other bruises found on Dhamendran's body were: A thick blood clot on his lower right thigh, measuring 28 x 20cm.

• An extensive blood clot on his left thigh, measuring 50 x 31cm

• Bruise measuring 23 x 14 cm on lower left leg

• Blood clots measuring 9 x 6.5cm on left half of his face

• Patchy bruises on his neck and upper chest, measuring 13 x 8cm

While the police have classified Dhamendran's death as murder under section 302 of the Penal Code, the four officers being probed are still serving desk duties.

Today Dhamendran’s widow took offence that the perpetrators were still walking free and demanded they be immediately arrested.

Dhamendran's death recalls similar circumstances surrounding 22-year-old A Kugan's in 2009 (right).

The youth was detained over alleged car theft and died in custody of horrific mulltiple wounds to his entire body and internal organs, although police originally claimed he died of an asthma attack.

Dr Siew concluded in her report that the overall pattern of these injuries revealed that they were neither self-inflicted nor accidental in nature.

Surendran also concluded that it means Dhamendran had been in good health when he first entered the lockup.

"Dhamendran was beaten on every part of his body, and not one inch was spared," he added.

"We can only imagine the pain and agony he endured during the last moments of his life as he was (allegedly) handcuffed and beaten to death.

"He was a man with hopes and dreams, a heart and a family. And they (police) took everything away from him."

 

lvbala said:

 

If any of this happens to your family members / husband or son would be sitting quite?

 

Where is the justice for the minority in Malaysia? What is the future for the minority of Malaysian?

 

Where do we stand??

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This is Interesting - Collective story

Malaysia always been a interesting country. Just name it, you will get all sort of stories. It can be  political, abuse of power, corruption, dead in custody, denial of entry from traveling in own country, denial to have peaceful gatering, bumiputra rights, denial of colored Malaysian, ruling government is always right and opposition is always wrong, cronism, favoritism and just name anything and you will get a story to talk about.

This is why the road side tea stalls always full of people but the the owners never made money; You know why? Hahahahaha.... a tea for RM1.00 and the chair is occupied for hours. How to make money la?

I had my "teh tarik" and news portal this morning and you know what? I can't live with out it. A day will not complete with out it.

As we go again,  it simply amazing to live in this country and so much so very interesting here compare to any other country around the world.

Lets starts of with dead in police custody. I have discussed about this issue before. Now tell me, how to feel safe when someone specialy colored citizen always end up dead in custodial of the Malaysian Autority? and you know what they get? Tranfered to desk job.

From Kugan to Darmendran, lately a man called James in Penang. Sugumar body still laid in hospital waiting for second autopsy. Even custom officer who was question jumped from higher storey to take his own life. Nothing has been done and ony talk and news to read.

Another interesting issue for today is Malaysian were stopped from traveling in his / her own country. They were not the criminals, they were not the terrorist and they were not treaten to the      country but politician made their own rules for their own beneficial and comfort or does this mean, ruling man in power pist on his pant for a sweet female politician?

Lets move on with another interesting denial of the rich and famous Malaysian who made money in 30 years in power. He is smart when he said this to the press. "Something is wrong when you dont use your brain while you are in power for 30 years". Hope you understand what he meant by saying so. His cooruption has been published and the whole world know what is happening.

The rakyat knows what is happening, the government know what is happening, the police know what is happening and we know GOD is watching.

His total denied proved that Federal government is holding thius state chief's balls and enjoying the smell of his fart. May be he think he is above PM of  Malaysia. Is this mean, PM is under power.

Wake up East Malaysian !!

Another political jokes, Malaysian will be blacklisted if they tarnish country's name abroad. Black list from what? To enter Malaysia? No la... their passport shall be cancelled and they can't go out from Malaysia anymore lo..... aiya so simple la.

And the best of all, "Apa cina mau lagi". Famous quote from Utusan. It was indeed worshipped by pro gov's goons. Is this not sedition?

Negara ku...
tanah tumpahnya darah ku.... my country. I am a Malaysian.

by,
lvbala

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THE CALL WAS TO ASSIST - Paul Low

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Paul Low has clarified that the phone call made by his officer to the family of N Dharmendran, who was found dead in police custody, was not to settle the case out of court, but to offer assistance.

“Basic human rights is the right of all. It was on this basis that my office had attempted to reach out to the family yesterday. We tried to explain that we are willing to work together with any party, regardless of political affiliations.

“This was sadly misunderstood as a means to settle out of court. This was never our intention. I still confirm that we are ready to work with any party, regardless of political affiliations, to ensure expedient justice to all,” said the newly-minted minister in a statement issued today.

The minister overseeing human rights and integrity was responding to the claim of Dharmendran’s father earlier today that he was contacted by an officer from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) yesterday.

B Narayanasamy, 59 said at a press conference at PKR headquarters this afternoon that a caller named Ravindran had spoken to him, and asked that their conversation be kept confidential.

Narayanasamy added that Dharmendran’s wife, S Marry, 28, was subsequently contacted by the same individual.

“He said he was from the PMO and that he wanted to meet with Marry and me to talk about Dharmendran’s death and to not inform our lawyers about this as well as our secret meeting,” he explained in Tamil.

According to Narayanasamy, Ravindran told them not to engage in their current lawyers as he would provide the family with his own, which Narayanasamy saw as “an attempt to cover up”.

Narayanasamy had rejected the offer as he believed the investigation needed to be focused on the cause of his son’s death and not on his family.

“The pathologist declared he had died of blunt force trauma, so why not continue with the investigations?” he asked.

Explanation sought from Najib

He demanded an explanation from Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak as to why officers within his department were interfering with Dharmendran’s death when they should be “charging the police officer who was responsible for his murder” instead.

His statements were translated by family lawyers G Sivamalar and PKR vice-president N Surendran, who were in attendance at the press conference today.

In the statement issued later, Low said his office has also contacted PKR's Subang MP R Sivarasa yesterday to clarity that his ministry is willing to bridge the political divide.

He called on the police to hasten their investigation which should be transparent, impartial and definitive.

“I have spoken to the home minister on this and have his assurance of a thorough investigation and anyone found responsible will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”

Low also urged the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to conduct a parallel investigation given allegations of possible corruption involved.

“I certainly believe that the various enforcement agencies would deliver an expedient and thorough investigation and bring to justice whoever is responsible.

The former Transparency-International Malaysia (TI-M) chapter president assured the public that a thorough evaluation of all procedures, practices and regulations will be made to ensure that they comply with the highest standard of integrity to safeguard the well-being of any person in custody.

Yesterday the police announced that a special committee headed by inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar will be set up to curb incidents involving deaths in police lock-ups.

Dharmendran, 31, was picked up by police on May 11 after he had lodged a report at the Pudu police station over his involvement in a fight. He was remanded at the Kuala Lumpur police contingent headquarters and faound dead on May 22.

His parents and wife had not been informed of his arrest until May 19, where they had visited him at the police lock-up on the very same day.

Consultant pathologist Dr Siew Sheue Feng from Kuala Lumpur Hospital later confirmed that Dharmendran had died of blunt force trauma, a result of the numerous staples and beatings inflicted to his body.

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24 hour or Face the Fact - PDRM

PKR has threatened to launch a major protest at the Bukit Aman federal police headquarters for failing to take action against those responsible for detainee N Dharmendran's death.

Calling this the worst death-in-custody case he has dealt with in his 15 years of handling human rights matters, PKR vice-president N Surendran (right) said a civilian would have been arrested immediately for a much lesser crime.

And yet, he said no action has been taken so far against those involved in the murder of Dharmendran, who died at the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters lock-up on May 21.

“The pathologist has already confirmed that Dharmendran was murdered in police custody. Why are there no police officers arrested to date?

“The murderer’s identity is already known in this case. The police only need to find all the police officers who questioned and tortured Dharmendran,” Surendran said today.
He called for the immediate arrest of the police officers involved, and for attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail to press murder charges against them.
24 hour ultimatum

He said he would see if the police take action in the next 24 hours before deciding whether to go ahead with the protest.

Surendran, who spoke as the family lawyer, said this to reporters after accompanying Dharmendran’s widow Mary Mariay Susay (right) and about 20 family members to lodge a fresh police report over the death at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters.

In this second police report, Mary Mariay cited the pathologist’s finding that her husband was murdered and complained that she was not kept informed of the developments in the case.
Thus far, Surendran said, he received a call from the investigating officer just after lodging a police report, asking Mary Mariay to have her statement recorded.

While welcoming this and saying that he would cooperate, Surendran reiterated that the culprits should have been arrested by now.

On Thursday, Kuala Lumpur police chief Mohamad Salleh said Bukit Aman has formed a task force to investigate the case under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.

This follows the government pathologist’s report that Dharmendran had died of “multiple blunt force trauma”, with staples attached to his ears as well as signs of stapling on his legs and ankles.

However, Surendran complained that despite the task force and Mohamad’s statements on May 23 that the task force has already begun working on the case, nothing is known of its progress.

Had to bribe to see husband

Meanwhile, Dharmendran’s family members carried placards and banners outside the police station denouncing the police as “bloodthirsty”, calling for justice and the formation of an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).

In an emotionally charged protest against the police, Mary Mariay, who was carrying her two-year-old son, lamented among other matters that she had to bribe her way to visit her husband while he was still alive in the lock-up last week to ensure that he was properly fed.

She said she was told to offer the police personnel on duty several packs of chicken rice, cans of sports drinks and sticks of cigarettes.

However, no amount of money can bring her husband back now, she said.

Asked whether a report has been lodged over the alleged bribery, Surendran said the family has not done so because the members have been busy with other issues. However, it will have to be lodged soon since, since Mary Mariay had raised the issue.

There was also a brief commotion within the police station compound while the police report was being lodged.

Reporters rushing to witness the scene found PKR human rights and legal affairs bureau deputy chairperson S Jayathas (left) on the ground.

Jayathas was surrounded by about 20 police officers while those guarding the gate quickly closed it. This lasted several minutes before he got up and entered the police station.

Earlier, at about 11.35am Jayathas was accompanying Dharmendran’s family and Surendran to lodge the police report, and came out of the police station to inform reporters waiting outside that the process would take another 10 minutes.

Speaking to reporters after he left the police station for the second time, Jayathas claimed that he was not allowed to re-enter the police station and was shoved to the ground, until Surendran came out of the station to intervene.

He has lodged a police report on this, naming the police officer who shoved him down.

“I want Bukit Aman to investigate the issue, not here (IPD Dang Wangi). I don’t trust the people here,” Jayathas said.

Surendran also denounced the large police presence when the report was being lodged, saying it amounted to intimidation against Dharmendran’s family and lawyers, who were only seeking justice.
Cops: Only crowd control
Meanwhile according to Bernama, Dang Wangi police chief ACP Zainuddin Ahmad in a statement explained the commotion saying the police were forced to tighten security and was merly trying to manage the crowd.

He said they were trying to prevent the whole group from entering all at once to reduce the congestion at the enquiries counter, as there were also other members of the public who were in the premises for their respective purposes.

He said the media statement was also to avoid any confusion over an incident at the station today, in which a man Zainuddin did not name, had suddenly rushed in through the restricted area, shoving off a policeman and cursing him before throwing himself down on the pathway at the entrance to the enquiries office.

According to Zainuddin, the man was lying there for about 10 to 15 seconds and sprang up when he heard a policeman calling for an ambulance.

"There was no force involved but police have filed a report against the man under section 353 of the Penal Code for using criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging his duty," he added.

Zainuddin was likely to be referring to Jayathas.

This new was from Malaysiankini. Justice for all who were ill treated in this country.

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Another Malaysian Indian Dead in Custody

A consultant pathologist from Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL) had late yesterday confirmed that police detainee N Dharmendran died as a result of "diffusion of soft tissue injuries due to multiple blunt force trauma".

This was related by Dr Siew Sheue Feng to Dharmendran's family and lawyers N Surendran and Latheefa Koya, as well as to the police investigating officer at the HKL mortuary last night.

According to Surendran, the pathologist had also found that the wounds were fresh, which the former said proved Dharmendran had been beaten and horribly tortured to death while in custody.

"This is a clear indication by the pathologist of the cause of death as blunt force trauma as a result of the beatings suffered by Dharmendran while being remanded at the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters.

"The pathologist also found rotan had been used on the deceased's back as there were (rotan) marks.

"Besides the ears being stapled, the pathologist also found staples on both legs at the ankle area," Surendran said.

He claimed this was the initial findings related by the pathologist, although Siew will prepare his full report on the findings within the next few days.

Surendran, who is also the newly-elected Padang Serai MP, had described this as the worst case of death in police custody since A Kugan in 2009.

This also rules out the earlier statements by the Kuala Lumpur police, where Criminal Investigation Department (CID) chief Ku Chin Wah was quoted to have said that the 31-year-old died as a result of breathing difficulties.

Police have now classified Dharmendran's death as murder under section 302 of the Penal Code.

In a statement issued late last night, Kuala Lumpur police chief Mohmad Salleh said that the post-mortem showed there were criminal elements in the death of the detainee.

"Police have referred the matter to Bukit Aman, and have received orders that the case be classified under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.

"An officer from Bukit Aman will be appointed to carry out further investigation into the matter," said Mohmad in a brief statement.

Funeral to be held today

Surendran said Dharmendran's family members are satisfied with the explanation given by the pathologist and will be claiming the body, with the funeral expected to be conducted later today.

"There will be no (further) post-mortem and the family and I are glad that the pathologist had made these important findings to prove the torture that Dharmendran had suffered.

"This is unlike the first post-mortem in the Kugan affair," he said.

It was reported that Dharmendran was arrested by police when he lodged a police report after being involved in a fight on May 11.

His wife and parents only knew of his arrest four days ago on May 19, and they visited Dharmendran at the police lock-up.

Dharmendran was supposed to have been released on bail yesterday.

However, the family was shocked when they received a call from an unidentified police officer informing them of Dharmendran's death and asked them to collect his body at HKL.

They were allowed to view the body yesterday afternoon and a post-mortem was performed soon after.

In the 2009 case of Kugan, the 23-year-old died at the Taipan police station after he was arrested over a spate of alleged thefts of luxury cars in the area.

His cause of death was initially listed as "pulmonary oedema", or drowning, after a first post-mortem was conducted at the Serdang hospital.

Dissatisfied with the findings, his family pressed for a second post-mortem, which found the cause of death to be blunt force trauma.

Action was taken on the pathologist who performed the first post-mortem by the Malaysian Medical Association.

This resulted in an on-going legal suit by the family of the deceased against the police and the government.

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