Vijay KumarKota Tinggi, December 26, 2010
The body of S.KalaiSelvam, who died in police custody, was put to rest today at 2pm at Sungai Tiram cemetery. Before this, his body was paraded from his residence at Taman Kota Jaya to the Kota Tinggi Police Head Quarters, for his last ritual.
At least 300 people who took part in the funeral procession which took place this afternoon saw family members and concern citizen carrying banners which depict police brutality. Also present were Johor PKR Chief Chua Jui Meng and MP Kapar S Manikavasagam.
Asked on the incident, Chua condemned the act of police for being inhuman in handling S.Kalaiselvam’s case. He also expressed his gratitude towards the Johor Bahru High Court Judge Tuan Kamardin Hashim who ordered a second postmortem in the present of counsel representing the family of deceased. The judge also ordered an inquest to be held concerning the death of Kalaiselvam in accordance to S334 Criminal Procedure of Penal Court Act 593.
Chua also expressed his regrets over the present government which failed to established the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC), as what has been promised by former Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
According to Manikavasagam, in the previous case of A.Kugan, minister concern assured that there will be no re-occurrence of such incidents, but looking at current situation which does not show any improvements, he determined to continue to raise the issue in the parliament.
S. Kalaiselvam was arrested by police at his home on 1st Sept and was remanded for 21 days at the Kota Tinggi district police station. Then the detention was extended for another 60 days under emergency ordinance. Later he was admitted to Sultan Ismail Hospital, Johor Bahru and on Nov 22, S.Kalasiselvam was pronounced dead. The 1st postmortem report indicated that he died from a lung infection.
Story by: Akmal Ariffin , Citizen Journalist
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