Prisoner dies in Bera police lock-up
Police say initial investigations show the man's
death is not linked to any criminal elements based on the closed-circuit
television (CCTV) recording.
KUANTAN: A detainee at the lock-up of the Bera district police
headquarters (IPD) was found unconscious before being pronounced dead
early Wednesday morning.
Bera district police chief DSP Mansor Samsudin said the guard at the
men’s lock-up of the police headquarters found the victim, Soh Kai
Chiok, 49, unconsciousness and was pronounced dead at 12.15am.
However, Mansor said initial investigations showed the man’s death
was not linked to any criminal elements based on the closed-circuit
television (CCTV) recording.
“There were no fights in the lock-up because when the victim was in
the lock-up, the place was under 24-hour CCTV surveillance,” he told
Bernama tonight.
In this regard, he urged the public not to speculate on the case because it could interfere with ongoing investigations.
Mansor said the man who has had five previous criminal records under
Section 15 (1) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 was arrested by police on
suspicion of stealing bananas. He was being investigated under Section
379 of the Penal Code.
“The victim was arrested by the owner of the banana plantation and
his four employees, who handed him (the victim) over to the police. When
the police arrested the man he was injured on the left arm, left leg
and on the face.
“The victim was taken to the Triang Health Clinic and was referred to
the Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Hospital (HOSHAS) in Temerloh. All lock-up
procedures were adhered to in giving the victim his medication, food and
drinks as well as seeing that he slept on time,” he said.
The body has been sent to HOSHAS for a post-mortem. - FMT News, 19/1/2017