Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo said that he was surprised at being called in for a statement regarding the recent death of detainee Syed Mohd Azlan Syed Mohamad Nor in Johor.

He died while being transferred from the Sungai Rengit police station to the Kota Tinggi police headquarters.

“This is strange. I am surprised that the police want to take a statement from me. They should be focusing on those who had access to the deceased during his detention instead, to find out what happened to him,” said Gobind.

Gobind who is the family lawyer for Syed Azlan, added that the police should write to him formally if they want to take a statement, not just ask him to do so by calling up his assistant Haijan Omar.

“The police should write to me officially with reasons if they wish to take a statement from me. I am minded to take this matter to court if necessary. Write to me first. I will take it from there,” he told Malaysiakini today.

The DAP lawmaker added that the police investigation so far has only raised more questions that any answers.

The deceased’s family claimed that the unemployed youth’s body was covered in bruises and "hole-shaped puncture marks" and suspects foul play.

Johor CID chief Hasnan Hassan, however, alleged that the 25-year-old was a drug addict with a prior criminal record and sustained injuries when resisting arrest.

Post-mortem punctures holes in cops' version