Suaram wants RCI on deaths in custody
Following the announcement of a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) on Teoh Beng Hock, human rights NGO Suaram is calling for one to be set up for other deaths in custody.
Following the announcement of a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) on Teoh Beng Hock, human rights NGO Suaram is calling for one to be set up for other deaths in custody.
In particular they want the case of Ooh Joo Kia, 44, arrested by the police in January and found dead in police detention seven hours later, to be investigated.
Oon was taken into custody during a 10.30pm raid at a shophouse in Sungai Bakap, Nibong on Tuesday Jan 4, 2010 on suspicion of illegal online gambling.
“The police have said that the death was not related to police action, but this remains unclear without independent verification,” said Suaram’s Penang branch in a statement today.
The NGO blasted the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) for failing in their duty to provide protection to all parties including those detained.
“Unfortunately, from the many cases of suspects or prisoners dying in custody, there is considerable doubt over whether this duty is being properly discharged,” said Suaram’s Penang coordinator Ong Jing Cheng.
He urges members of public to contact Suaram should there be suspicion of abuses of power by the police, including “arbitrary detention powers conferred by the Emergency Ordinance (EO) or Dangerous Drug Act (DDA) etc.”.
Ong also renewed calls for the setting up of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission, “that has been proposed by many organisations for many years”.
BN ‘insincere’ about RCI
Meanwhile the RCI related to the DAP aide Teoh continues to receive criticism for its limited scope in the Tterms of reference.
“We will not accept if the death of Beng Hock to remain a mystery. How could a 30-year-old young man who was expecting his marriage on the second day and a baby months later, to be found dead at the MACC building while under the custody of MACC?
"The culprit must be brought to the court of law,” said DAP Perak Youth chief Wong Kah Woh (right).
The Canning assemblyperson, in a statement, also expressed scepticism at the BN government’s sincerity over the RCI.
Meanwhile Ipoh Timor MP Lim Kit Siang remarked that the case should not end up as a “heinous crime without criminals”.
Lim also doubted MCA president Chua Soi Lek’s sincerity, asking, “Can Chua explain how the establishment of a Royal Commission of Inquiry specifically excluded from investigating the cause of Teoh’s death but only confined to the investigation procedures of MACC could help...”
“Will the MCA ministers agree if the attorney-general’s objective is to seek a revision of the open verdict ... to one of ‘death by suicide’?” he asked.
