SEPANG: A deputy minister is among nine people facilitating police investigations into an incident where a dead detainee’s family are alleged to have trespassed into Serdang Hospital mortuary on Tuesday.
Apart from Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk S K Devamany, the others are Kapar MP S. Manikavasagam, Teluk Intan MP M. Manogaran,
MIC Youth chief T. Mohan, lawyer N. Surendran, three journalists and an unidentified person.
The statements of the nine were recorded at the Sepang police headquarters in connection with allegations that the family of A. Kugan, 22, who died in police custody earlier that day, had barged into the mortuary to examine bruises on his body.
While the post-mortem result revealed that he died of lung infection, the attorney-general re-classified the case as murder.
Speaking to reporters later, Devamany said he had recounted what had happened on Tuesday night and cooperated with the police.
Earlier, Selangor police chief Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar had said police would record statements from two deputy ministers.
On Jan 15, Kugan was detained by police on suspicion of being involved in stealing luxury cars in Sungai Chua, Kajang.
“There was no trespassing or break-in. It was under control and we followed procedures. Only Kugan’s family went in (the mortuary),” said Manikavasagam.
Surendran, counsel for the family, said the mortuary was open to the public to enable them to see the bodies of family members.
“According to the law, the next-of-kin have the right and authority to see the bodies of family members, take pictures...the bodies belong to them,” he said.
Bernama
26/01/09
No comments:
Post a Comment