THE family of G. Ganeshwaran who died in police custody want the Home Ministry and the police to explain the cause of death, said lawyer N. Surendran.

Surendran, who is representing the family, said his clients found the sudden death of a perfectly healthy 29-year-old man unacceptable.

Ganeshwaran’s death is the latest in a string of deaths to have occurred in custody.

“The family performed the last rites today. Once they have recovered, they will want to hear explanations from the government and the police as to how Ganeshwaran could be taken into police custody perfectly healthy and come out in a body bag four days later,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Ganeshwaran was a dispatch rider whom South Klang police arrested on Thursday to assist in investigations into a spate of break-ins. The next day, during a meeting with his family at the courthouse, Ganeshwaran had complained that he was beaten while in remand.

His sister who declined to be named said he told their mother that he was kicked in the throat. She said he later collapsed and was rushed to Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah. He died on the way there.

News reports have quoted South Klang OCPD Asst Comm Shamsul Amar Ramli saying that a post-mortem concluded that Ganeshwaran died of pulmonary thromboembolism – a blockage in a lung artery due to a blood clot in the leg, which the family believes was caused by the alleged beatings in custody.

Surendran said that he had a briefing with a team of pathologist on the cause of death and the result of the post mortem has left a lot of questions unanswered.

“The pathologist have confirmed that Ganeshwaran was perfectly healthy and had no diseases. How did the blood clot form in his leg? 

“Another important question is, why was he not given immediate medical attention when he complained that he was feeling sick?”

Surendran said the family was mulling a civil suit against the government for the wrongful death of Ganeshwaran, depending on the authorities’ response to their questions. 

“We will have to consider what they have to say and after we get the full post mortem report in two weeks. The option of civil action is certainly on the table,” he said.

Surendran said the family would also be lodging a police report soon.

Klang MP Charles Santiago said the Ganeshwaran’s death warranted an official inquiry into police negligence.

“The police were clearly negligent, yet again, in not acting swiftly despite Ganeshwaran showing signs of being unwell after not eating for two days and complaining of nausea.

“According to his mother, Ganeshwaran had vomited earlier in the morning. And she also said that he had no history of asthma, as indicated by the police,” he said.

He said the police needed to protect people in custody, including providing them with adequate health care and swift hospitalisation.

Santiago said 1,654 people died in police custody between 2010 and February .

“Three people died in the first three months of the year. Deaths in police custody demonstrate the abuse of due process, abuse of the judicial process, and abuse of police powers.”

Santiago said the police must change their stance and support the setting up of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission if they wished to uphold integrity, transparency, and accountability. – December 19, 2017.