PETALING JAYA: The Association for the Promotion of Human
Rights (Proham) has called for the current Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) to be
amended to allow a magistrate to immediately examine the body of a person who
died in police custody.
Proham secretary-general Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria made
the call in the light of the recent deaths of N. Dhamendran, Jamesh Ramesh and
P. Karuna Nithi which has raised many questions on custodial deaths especially
with regards to the investigation methods used while holding suspects in
remand.
He said that once the magistrate has examined the body in
a custodial death, he could then direct the police on what to do.
Dr Denison noted that the Royal Police Commission in its
report (2005) had recognised deaths in custody as “a serious cause for
concern”.
“It went on to note that of even greater concern is the
fact that inquests were only held for six of the 80 deaths,” he said in a
statement yesterday.
Dr Denison was a member of the Royal Police Commission,
which was formed to reform and review police operations.
“The Royal Police Commission also called for the adoption
of a code of practice relating to arrest and detention of persons including the
need for independent custody officers in every police station.
“Proham notes that these recommendations made by the
Royal Police Commission in 2005 have not been implemented,” he said.
He added that Proham calls on the Federal Government to
adopt recommendations, including, amending the CPC and for the formation of the
Independent Police Com-plaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).
DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said only an IPCMC
could prevent needless custodial deaths.
“The number of custodial deaths since 2000 is 219, a
shocking figure that is sure to rise without any safeguards and preventive
mechanism such as the IPCMC.
“There is no reason why the Government refuses to look
into such oversight of the police when it is recommended in 2005 by the Royal
Commission of Inquiry into the Police,” he said.
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