Four policemen in Malaysia face suspension in connection with the custodial death of a 32-year-old ethnic Indian man here, even as a probe into the incident by a high-powered committee continued.
"Yes, that is being done," Malaysia's Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said confirming that the four officers, who were on duty when N Dharmendran died on May 21, would be suspended from active duty, Malaysian newspaper 'Star' reported today.
He assured that they would not let off any individual responsible for deaths in custody, especially if investigations are done using methods outside of the force's approved standard operating procedures (SOP).
A high-powered investigating committee led by the inspector-general of police continued to probe Dhamendran's death.
Dhamendran died while he was detained at the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters. He had complained of chest pain and was sent to a city hospital but died on arrival.
His wife M Marry, 26, had accused the police of delaying investigations and harassing her family.
"We have a post-mortem report from forensic expert which stated that the cause of my husband's death was multiple blunt force trauma. Why are they still calling up my family and even my lawyer? They haven't even arrested a single cop responsible," she was quoted by media reports as saying.
Last week, the police revealed that the four policemen implicated in Dharmendran's death have been reassigned to desk duties pending the completion of the probe into the case.
The move sparked public outrage, with various groups demanding for their immediate suspension.
Some ethnic Indian-based non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the strategic director of Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), S Vell Paari, have threatened to hold protests and street rally against the deaths in custody of Dharmendran and two others in the past two weeks.
There have been eight deaths in police custody this year, including the latest case of 42-year-old P Karuna Nithi at the Tampin police station last Saturday.
Two other recent deaths include Dharmendra, who died in Kuala Lumpur on May 21, while R James Ramesh, 40, who died in Penang on May 26, Star reported.
"Custodial deaths are becoming rampant and require drastic action. If we can hold rallies for political, religious and racial reasons, there is no reason why we can't have one for this," Vell Paari said, adding that he was disappointed with the authorities for their lack of action.
The leader of Malaysia's largest ethnic Indian-based political party said a meeting of various Indian organisations and politicians from the Opposition would be called soon.
