A NEW death in custody case was reported today, making it the 16th such case this year.

Bukit Aman Integrity and Standard Compliance Department director Azri Ahmad in a statement today said a 48-year-old detainee was found weak in lock-up this morning.

“The man was found in weak condition by the staff on duty.”

The staff then contacted a medical officer, who pronounced the man dead at 9.35am.

The deceased was charged under section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

He was to be temporarily detained at the Seri Alam police station until May 10 after facing a five-month prison sentence on April 27.

The last death in custody case occurred just last month, when a 45-year-old detainee suffered seizures in lock-up and died on the way to hospital.

Malaysia recorded 176 custodial deaths between 2015 and 2021, of which 44 occurred last year. – May 8, 2022.