Policeman who kicked detainee 'identified' at inquest

A police detainee identified at a coroner's inquest today, a policeman whom he claimed had kicked fellow detainee R. Gunasegaran on his chest at Sentul police station last year.

S. Selvach, who had also been detained together with Gunasegaran on July 16, 2009 at Jalan Sentul with three others, said the plainclothed policeman had earlier hit Gunasegaran with a piece of wood, causing him to fall on to the ground.

Selvach said at Sentul police station, he gave his urine in a bottle for a urine test, but Gunasegaran could not provide urine for tests.

"One of the policeman kicked him on his chest," said Selvach, to questions by Gunasegaran's family lawyer, M. Visvanathan.

Asked if he can recognise the policeman who had kicked Gunasegaran on his chest, Selvach said: "Yes, I can still remember."

Visvanathan then asked for the police officers involved in the case to be present in the court for identification and five policemen entered the court room.

Selvach identified all five as policemen from the anti-narcotics branch at Sentul police station who had been involved in the arrests on July 16 last year.

Asked to identify the one who had allegedly kicked Gunasegaran, Selvach pointed at a policeman, who then identified himself to the court as Lance Corporal Mohd Faizal.

Earlier, asked to describe Gunasegaran's condition on being kicked, Selvach said it "was bad."

He said Gunasegaran had fainted after that and he (Selvach) was not sure then whether Gunasegaran was dead or alive.

Q: Was his body moving?

A: No

Q: Was he talking?

A: No

To questions by DPP Shashitah Mohamad Hanifa, Selvach said he saw Gunasegaran lying at the lock-up area when he came back later to take his identity card after he was released.

To a suggestion that he could not have seen Gunasegaran, who was in the lock up area while he was outside, Selvach disagreed.

Selvach also disagreed to another suggestion by DPP Shahshitah that he had met with the accused's family and other friends, and only knew about the incident based on what they had told him.

Earlier, Sentul district police chief ACP Zakaria Pagan who testified in the inquest, agreed with Visvanathan that although it was a requirement of law that a report be lodged on a death, until today, there was no police report lodged on Gunasegaran's death.

Hearing before Coroner Siti Shakirah Mohtarudin continues on Aug 10.

The Sun
15/07/10

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