Jan 7 Mention Of Inquest Into Bentong Lockup Death In Custody

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The Kuantan Coroner’s Court today fixed Jan 7 next year for further mention in the inquest proceedings of G Jestus Kevin, who died in custody in the Bentong police station lockup earlier this year.
Coroner Mohd Ghazali Mohamad Taib set the mention date in order to fix hearing dates for the inquest proceedings into the deceased’s death.
The deceased family’s lawyer M Visvanathan today confirmed the outcome of the mention of the matter at the Kuantan Courts Complex this morning.
The lawyer added that the mention date is also for the prosecution to hand over relevant documents to the family’s legal team.
“The judge set Jan 7 next year for another mention for the prosecution to provide documents to the (family’s) lawyers.
“They have agreed to provide documents such as the post-mortem report, chemist report, and police report.
“The mention is also for the fixing of the hearing dates of the inquest,” Visvanathan said when contacted today.
The lawyer added that the inquest is to seek the truth on what were the circumstances that Jestus died in.
He said that the family is seeking the inquest as it was alleged that Jestus was a young person in good health who suddenly died during a two-day remand.
“There were injuries on the body. He (Jestus) was a young person in good health, then he suddenly died while under two-day remand,” Visvanathan claimed.
On Apr 6, Suaram called for an inquest into the death of Jestus, 30, at the Bentong police station lock-up.


In a statement, Suaram executive director Sevan Doraisamy (photo) said the death raised worrying questions as to how the deceased was treated by the police during his detention.
It was reported that the man was nabbed on Apr 2 for alleged theft and found dead on Apr 5.
According to Bentong district police chief Yusof Unis, police personnel on duty found the victim experiencing breathing difficulty at about 12.50am on Apr 5 and called for an ambulance.
He said when the ambulance arrived at lockup, the victim was found dead. - Mkini

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