Family Demands Truth After Man Falls Unconscious In Prison Dies Later

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The family members of a coffee shop owner in Johor Bahru demanded the truth behind his death as he was allegedly rushed to the hospital hours before his release from Kluang prison after serving a seven-day sentence for driving under influence.
Kim Shih Keat, 36, who was supposed to be released on June 28, died at 9.33am on the same day at Hospital Enche' Besar Halijah Khalsom in Kluang.
This was about two hours after he was found unconscious and rushed to the hospital by the prison.
His elder brother Shih Hoe, 39, raised suspicion over the death.
"My brother was arrested for driving under influence on Sept 23 last year after attending a birthday celebration. He was charged on June 22 and sentenced to prison. He was supposed to be released on June 28," said Shih Hoe when contacted.
"We want to know what happened to him. He was healthy before he was sent to the prison," he added.
‘He was a healthy man’
Earlier today, Shih Hoe, together with his sister Michelle, 33, voiced their dissatisfaction at a press conference called by former Skudai assemblyperson Dr Boo Cheng Hau.
Online news portal Free Malaysia Today quoted them as alleging that Shih Keat died in police custody.
They have since lodged a police report.
According to the report, the family members had attempted to contact the prison thrice between June 25 and 27 to know the exact date of Shih Keat's release, but they were told to call back again the next day.
"At 8.30am on June 28, I contacted the prison to know the exact time of the release of my brother and I was informed that he would be released the earliest by 10am and latest by 12 noon on the same day.
"However, my sister-in-law said she received a call from a man who runs a funeral service that my brother had died," said Michelle.
She said the family later got a call from the prison, informing them that Shih Keat was found unconscious at 7.50am on June 28 and was rushed to the hospital to get treatment.
Michelle said the doctor who performed the post-mortem confirmed that his brother was a healthy man before he was sent to the hospital.
"While the pathologist noted there were injuries found on his leg, elbows and both knees, the doctor said he has no illness and such injuries will not result in death," she said.
Shih Keat is survived by his wife and two daughters, aged four and six.
‘Sudden death’
When contacted, Kluang deputy police chief Abdul Razak Abdullah confirmed receiving a police report from the family. He said the case is currently being classified as sudden death.
"We are still waiting for the post-mortem report," he said in a text message to Malaysiakini.
Meanwhile, Boo urged the police to invite both the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) and Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) to conduct a joint investigation and inquest on the death.
"Law enforcement units should not be investigating their own officers due to conflict of interest.
"The alarming number of deaths in police custody should be dealt with proactively under the rule of law and that no one is above the law, including the black sheep within the police force itself.
"The government of the day should consider amending the existing law by giving prosecution powers to EAIC and Suhakam," said Boo. - Mkini

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