Bukit Aman probing custodial death as voluntarily causing grievous hurt

Federal police will investigate Noorizwan Zulkefly’s death last month while in police custody as a case of voluntarily causing grievous hurt to extort a confession.

Bukit Aman criminal investigation department director M Kumar said a post-mortem found external injuries on several parts of Noorizwan’s body that were consistent with blunt-force trauma and were not self-inflicted.

“However, we have yet to obtain the full autopsy report to confirm the cause of death,” Kumar said in a statement.

He added that authorities were identifying the policemen involved in handling Noorizwan while he was in detention.

“The probe will be conducted professionally and there will be no cover-ups.”

Noorizwan, 42, was arrested on Sept 19 in connection with investigations into drug possession, theft and a break-in.

He was held at the Cheras police headquarters before being taken to Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz UKM (HUKM) on Sept 30. He was pronounced dead the following day.

Kumar’s statement comes two days after lawyers acting for Noorizwan’s family disputed Bukit Aman’s findings that the deceased did not suffer any internal injury.

Earlier reports stated that Noorizwan’s autopsy found 21 serious injuries, including generalised brain haemorrhage, internal abdominal bleeding and extensive swelling from his skull to the soles of his feet.

Inspector-General of Police Khalid Ismail subsequently directed Bukit Aman’s CID to investigate Noorizwan’s death, saying there were “several unusual injuries” on his body.

Noorizwan’s death sparked renewed calls for the establishment of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).