A CUSTODIAL death watchdog is calling for the inquest into the death of 49-year-old lorry driver Vinaiyagar K. Thinpathy, the latest in a spate of custodial deaths.

Eliminating Deaths and Abuse in Custody Together (EDICT) said according to Vinaiyagar’s wife, the forensic department had attributed the cause of death to stomach ulcer, but it could have been prevented had he received early treatment.

“The wife of the victim also claimed that there was a bruise and wound on his body,” the group said.

“Therefore, EDICT is urging the relevant authorities to conduct an inquest into the death of the deceased to determine the cause of death and if there are perpetrators to enable the process of getting justice for the victim’s family.”

Selangor Criminal Investigation Department chief Nik Ezanee Mohd Faisal recently said an inquiry will be conducted into the death at the Kuala Langat police headquarters in Banting.

Vinaiyagar died in police custody on Monday, nearly a week after his arrest in Banting on September 8.

The civil society group said it has seen many of such cases along with lawyers, whereby the coroner’s court had confirmed that the deaths were preventable had the victims received timely treatment.

It said the police should have learnt a lesson from the court’s findings from previous cases.

“If there is an element of carelessness and negligence on the part of the police in this case, then justice should be served and stern action should be taken,” it said.

The group also called for an inquest into another case in Seberang Perai involving the deaths of two foreigners who were shot by police.

The two men, who had no identification documents, were shot dead in the wee hours yesterday in Bukit Mengkuang, Kubang Semang, Penang, after they opened fire at the police.

The men, in their 30s and 40s, were on the police radar after a criminal intimidation and shooting case in Bukit Mertajam on September 12.

While the group supports the efforts of the police to prevent crimes, it said it is the responsibility of the courts to mete out sentences.

“Therefore, the police have to give an explanation and justification for the incident,” it said.

It also urged Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob to reinstate the Independent Police Complaints of Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) bill, which the Perikatan Nasional government had withdrawn. 

Instead, it called on the government to withdraw the watered-down Independent Police Complaints Commission, which it mooted in the place of the IPCMC. – September 17, 2021.