Anwar contacts IGP over Cheras custodial death

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has contacted Inspector-General of Police Khalid Ismail to obtain further information on the custodial death of the late Noorizwan Zulkefly, 42.

Anwar said he was also grieved by Noorizwan’s death on Oct 1 and understood the sadness and unease shared by the family of the deceased.

“I have stressed (to Khalid) that the investigation should be conducted thoroughly, transparently, and without compromise, and that its developments should be communicated to the family,” he said in a post on X.

Earlier today, Noorizwan’s family submitted a letter to Anwar seeking the prime minister’s assurance that the detainee’s death would be investigated transparently and that the family would be updated regularly.

Anwar’s aide received the letter on his behalf.

“I am not asking the prime minister to determine who is guilty or to impose a sentence. I only ask that justice be served firmly, freely, and without unreasonable delays,” Noorizwan’s younger brother, Nooranis Zulkefly, said in the letter.

He also urged Anwar to order the authorities to stop “harassing” the family’s lawyers as they seek information on the detainee’s death.

He said the lawyers should be able to carry out their professional duties for the family without the authorities intimidating them.

This comes after lawyers Latheefa Koya, N Surendran and Dina Zamri were questioned by federal police for visiting Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz UKM’s (HUKM) pathology unit to obtain clarification on Noorizwan’s autopsy report and to view photographs of his injuries.

Noorizwan was arrested on Sept 20 and held at the Cheras police headquarters for 11 days before being taken to HUKM on Sept 30. He was pronounced dead on Oct 1.

The family previously rejected the police’s insistence that Noorizwan’s arrest and detention were conducted in accordance with SOPs.

Earlier today, Bukit Aman said Noorizwan suffered several external injuries but did not suffer any internal bleeding. Nonetheless, the cause of death is pending laboratory analysis.