EAIC investigates detainee's death at North Klang IPD

The Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) will investigate the death of S. Balamurugan while under detention at the North Klang police headquarters (IPD) in Selangor yesterday, Bernama reports.

In a statement today, quoting an online English portal report, EAIC chairman Datuk Yaacob Md Sam said the 44-year-old victim died about 6am yesterday, three days after his arrest and subsequent detention at the IPD.

He said according to family members who identifed the body at the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital, Balamurugan had sustained bruises on the face and there was bleeding.

He said the family also alleged there was also bleeding in the mouth and that Balamurugan had "vomitted blood" when brought to court for remand on Tuesday.

Yaacob said counsel Gerard Lazarus who represented the victim's family, had claimed that despite family members requesting immediate treatment for the victim at the hospital on Tuesday, the man was instead, detained at the IPD.

He said the EAIC had thus, set up a task force in accordance with provisions under Section 17 of the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission Act 2009 [Act 700] to investigate the case.

He said the EAIC viewed the incident seriously following the death of another detainee, Soh Kai Chiok at the Bera IPD on Jan 18.

Meanwhile in Klang, Balamurugan's family lodged a police report at the South Klang IPD today, urging the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the death, including a second autopsy.

The victim's brother, Kumar, 37, lodged the report. -- BERNAMA