THE Attorney-General’s Chambers has filed for an inquest at the Shah Alam Coroner’s Court into the custodial death of A. Ganapathy, the family’s lawyer M. Kulasegaran said.

The Ipoh Barat MP said the date of the inquest is still unknown.

He added that deputy public prosecutor Sean Dudley submitted a potential witness list comprising 80 people during case management yesterday.

“After a quick deliberation with Shah Alam Sessions Court judge Rasyihah Ghazali, it was decided that the number of witnesses be narrowed down to about 25. The next case management would be held on March 3,” Kulasegaran said in a statement. 

“We welcome the decision by the AG to initiate a coroner’s inquest into this matter at the Shah Alam Sessions Court, according to section 339 of the criminal procedure code,” he said.

The lawyer also expressed concerns over the never-ending issue of custodial deaths in Malaysia. 

“It is saddening to note that just one month after Ganapathy’s death, another detainee, S. Sivabalan died in the same police station. Last week another unnamed Malay male detainee died in the same police station.

“There have been 10 deaths in police custody in Malaysia so far this year,” he said.

“This number is alarming and proactive measures need to be taken immediately for this abuse to stop. Does the IGP (inspector-general of police) or the home minister have the willpower to address this issue?”

Police apprehended Ganapathy on February 24 last year, and he was later admitted to Selayang Hospital. He died on April 18 of last year, barely over a month after being warded, at the hospital.

Kulasegaran, who represents Ganapathy’s widow, Rajamalar, together with V. Vemal Arasan, stated at the time that a pathologist had determined he died as a result of injuries to his legs and shoulders sustained while in custody at the Gombak district police headquarters.

However, Arifai Tarawe, the then-Gombak police chief, denied that Ganapathy was abused while in police custody. – February 23, 2022.