PETALING JAYA: The police have been accused of delaying the murder investigation concerning N Dharmendran, who died recently in police custody.
Expressing disappointment and anger over this, the family’s lawyer N Surendran said the deceased’s wife M Marry, 26, has also refused to remove her “thali” until the perpetrators are charged.
The “thali” is tied around the bride’s neck by the bridegroom during a Hindu wedding ceremony.
Speaking to FMT, Surendran said the authorities were not using their powers effectively in identifying the culprits.
“I blame the government and the police for this delay, only they have the powers and details to take action on the perpetrators, yet they don’t put their sources to proper use,” he said.
“The police and government have never shown interest in cases involving police brutality ever since A Kugan’s case in 2009.
“They have neither had the intention to charge nor prosecute the ones responsible for the deaths in police custody thus far,” added the PKR vice-president and MP for Padang Serai.
Dharmendran, 32, an Indah Water employee was arrested on May 11 shortly after lodging a police report that he was involved in a fight earlier that night.
The father of a two-year-old daughter was held at the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters and was sent to HKL, where he died, on the night of May 21 due to an alleged asthma attack.
However, the post-mortem revealed that he had died of blunt force trauma. The family was also horrified to discover that his body was covered with bruises, while his ears and ankles were stapled.
On May 23, Kuala Lumpur police chief Mohmad Salleh confirmed that Dharmendran’s case was being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.
Mohmad also confirmed that the investigations were being carried out by a special team from the Bukit Aman police headquarters.
Time for IPCMC
Another lawyer for the family, Latheefa Koya also agreed that the police were delaying the investigation process on purpose as they should have all the necessary details by now.
“It’s clearly a delaying tactic. They can easily identify the perpetrators as they have all the details
“As long as there is no political will from the government to set up the Independant Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC), BN will always protect the police and vice versa,” she added.
The lawyers would accompany the family of Dharmendran to express their dissatisfaction with the police at a press conference scheduled for tomorrow.
G Lavendran, Free Malaysia Today