KUANTAN: Bukit Aman's Integrity and Standard Compliance Department is investigating the death of a 25-year-old Orang Asli man while in custody at the Pekan police headquarters on May 4 before handing over the findings to the coroner.
The department's director Datuk Seri Azri Ahmad said the Criminal Investigation Unit for Deaths in Custody was conducting the investigation from all angles. He said upon completion, they will turn over the investigation findings to the coroner.
"To date, the incident has been classified as sudden death. The case was referred to the Independent Police Conduct Commission (IPCC) on May 4 (within 24 hours after the incident) followed by another report on May 7, along with other periodic reports for monitoring and investigation updates," he said in a statement today.
Yesterday, former deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law) Mohamed Hanipa Maidin described the case involving Norazman Me, a father of one, as "puzzling". This was following reports that Norazman's family had not received any updates on the case since his death.
On Sept 26, Norazman's family urged the police to explain his death after they were allegedly informed that he was found dead in his cell at the police headquarters.
The following day, Pahang police chief Datuk Seri Yahaya Othman said the department had nothing to hide and was prepared to meet Norazman's family to clear any doubts about the incident.
Azri said the accused was detained by policemen from the Pekan Criminal Investigation Department for allegedly riding a stolen motorcycle about 6.30pm on May 1.
"The suspect was investigated under Section 379A of the Penal Code for vehicle theft and tested positive for morphine. He was remanded for three days between May 2 and May 4 at the Pekan police headquarters lock-up.
"About 3.10 am on May 4, the accused was confirmed dead by a medical officer from Pekan Hospital and a post-mortem conducted at the Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital in Kuantan on the same day found the cause of death as due to 'hanging'," he said.