Allow Suhakam Into Taiping Prison For Custodial Death Probe Govt Urged

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There were claims that some 60 prison wardens had assaulted more than 100 prisoners in Taiping prison recently, leading to the death of one inmate. (Facebook pic)
PETALING JAYA: Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) has urged the home ministry to ensure that the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) is granted access to Taiping prison to investigate a custodial death.
Suaram executive director Sevan Doraisamy criticised the prisons department for retracting its initial approval for Suhakam to visit the prison to hold its inquiry.
He said this was a clear breach of the Suhakam Act 1999, which gives the commission the authority to hold an inquiry into a complaint unless the matter is pending in court.
“Claims that the inquiry must wait due to an ongoing police investigation are unfounded.
“If ‘due process’ is to be followed as stated by home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail two days ago, then Suhakam’s statutory powers that are so explicitly outlined in Malaysian law should not be contravened.
“Saifuddin’s justification of providing cooperation in an ‘orderly and phased’ manner is both untenable and alarming when faced with Suhakam’s independent mandate,” he said in a statement.
Sevan said it was crucial for Suhakam to be allowed access to Taiping prison immediately as investigations into deaths in custody needed to be carried out in a timely manner to ensure justice.
“Suaram calls on the home ministry to immediately ensure Suhakam’s unrestricted access to Taiping prison to conduct its investigation.
“The home ministry must also allow the commission to visit Sosma detainees in Sungai Buloh prison, following allegations of torture and ill-treatment in custody, with several police reports already lodged,” he said.
In a statement yesterday, Suhakam hit out at the prisons department for obstructing its officers during an official investigation into alleged human rights violations involving inmates.
It said prison officers had barred Suhakam from speaking to an inmate at the Batu Gajah correctional centre and cancelled scheduled visits to Taiping prison.
Bukit Aman is investigating the alleged assault of more than 100 Taiping prison inmates by the prison’s officers, which purportedly led to the death of one prisoner.
There were claims that some 60 prison wardens had assaulted more than 100 prisoners in Taiping prison recently, allegedly leading to the death of one inmate. - FMT

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