Cheras custodial death probe: Family denies lawyers intimidated forensic specialist, demands focus on justice

The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) logo is pictured at the Bukit Aman federal police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 18, 2024. — Picture by Choo Choy May

By Malay Mail

First Published: Tuesday, 03 Nov 2026 1:32 PM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 3 — The younger brother of Noorizwan Zulkefly has rejected police allegations that the family’s legal team intimidated a hospital forensic specialist, calling on authorities to halt investigations against their lawyers and keep public scrutiny fixed on his brother’s custodial death.

In a media statement released today, Nooranis Zulkefly insisted that he attended the briefing in person and observed the forensic medicine consultant presenting and explaining his brother’s post-mortem photographs without any coercion, hostility, or pressure from their legal representatives.

“My wife, the three lawyers and two police officers from Bukit Aman were all present at the meeting with the forensic specialist doctor.

“During the meeting, the doctor voluntarily showed and explained the late Noorizwan’s post-mortem photographs,” he said.

The denial follows a police report lodged by the doctor, a government medical officer, which prompted Bukit Aman’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to initiate a criminal probe against the family’s legal team under Sections 506, 186, and 189 of the Penal Code for criminal intimidation, obstructing a public servant, and threatening a public servant.

CID director Datuk M. Kumar confirmed yesterday that investigators had recorded statements from the medical specialist and three legal practitioners linked to the case, while scheduling interviews with Noorizwan’s surviving kin.

Nooranis identified the three lawyers named in the probe as rights advocates N. Surendran, Latheefa Koya, and Dina Zamri.

Recounting the hospital briefing, Nooranis said he attended the consultation alongside his wife, the three lawyers, and two Bukit Aman police officers. He characterised the entire session as cordial and professional, noting that the family exchanged handshakes and posed for a commemorative photograph with the doctor before leaving.

Expressing bewilderment that harassment allegations were aired publicly despite two federal police officers witnessing the entire exchange, Nooranis questioned what factual foundation Bukit Aman possessed to accuse the lawyers of intimidation.

The dispute unfolds as Bukit Aman’s Prosecution and Legal Division (D5) prepares to submit the core custodial death investigation papers to the Attorney-General’s Chambers on Wednesday.

Investigators reclassified the death under Section 331 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing grievous hurt to extort a confession, following clinical findings from Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz indicating that multiple external injuries across Noorizwan’s body were consistent with non-accidental blunt-force trauma, though the final autopsy analysis remains pending.

Nooranis today issued three primary demands from the family, insisting on an immediate cessation of “undue harassment” directed at their lawyers, full recognition of their counsel’s right to test evidence through due process without state interference, and a transparent prosecution of any custodial personnel implicated in his brother’s death.

Questioning why state scrutiny was turned against lawyers advocating for a grieving family rather than resolving a fatal custodial breach, Nooranis cautioned authorities against pursuing “baseless” diversions, concluding with the rally cry: “Do not divert the issue, do not harass our lawyers, justice for Noorizwan must be upheld”.