Fraud suspect dies after jumping off IPD building

A man, remanded over a fraud case, died after jumping off the first floor of the North Seberang Perai (SPU) District Police Headquarters (IPD) building here yesterday (Sunday).

Penang Police chief Datuk Abdul Rahim Hanafi said the man, aged 56, who was detained last night in Kuantan, Pahang to help investigations over a police report in Butterworth on the case, died of serious injuries in the 1pm incident.

"The man, from Seri Kembangan, Selangor, who had eight crime records, was nabbed in Kuantan last night before being taken back to SPU IPD and remanded four days," he said when contacted here, today.

He said the incident took place when an investigation officer was taking down the statement of the man in a room at the Commercial Crimes Investigation Division on the first floor of the building.

"The man, who was handcuffed, suddenly barged through the door of the room and ran out before jumping off the building," he said. Abdul Rahim said another policeman, who was the accompanying officer, was also in the room during the incident, but they could not do anything as it happened very fast.

The suspect's body was taken to the Kepala Batas Hospital for a post-mortem.

He said police would investigate the case and would take firm action if there were elements of negligence.