Ramkarpal asks Saifuddin to clarify probe into custodial death lawyers

DAP legal bureau chairman Ramkarpal Singh has called on home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail to clarify whether the police will proceed with the investigation into three lawyers representing the family of Noorizwan Zulkefly, who died in custody earlier this month.

Ramkarpal, a former deputy law minister, also called on Inspector-General of Police Khalid Ismail to reveal the provisions of law under which the three Lawyers for Liberty lawyers are being probed.

Latheefa Koya, N Surendran and Dina Zamri were questioned for more than three hours at the Petaling Jaya police headquarters in a probe centred on a visit by the lawyers and the family to Hospital Canselor Tunku Muhriz UKM’s pathology unit to seek clarification on Noorizwan’s autopsy findings and view photographs of his injuries.

The autopsy reportedly found 21 serious injuries on Noorizwan, 42, including generalised brain haemorrhage, internal abdominal bleeding and extensive swelling from his skull to the soles of his feet.

In a statement, Ramkarpal said lawyers were well within their rights to seek information from the agencies investigating their clients’ cases.

“The investigation into the lawyers reeks of high-handedness on the part of the police and can be seen as harrasment,” the Bukit Gelugor MP added.

“This must be condemned outright. Lawyers have a duty to represent their clients without fear or favour.

“I cannot see what offence may have been committed by the trio justifying the investigation. There can be no doubt that it can be seen as an act of intimidation on them.”

Surendran previously told FMT the trio were being probed under Sections 506 and 186 of the Penal Code.

Section 506 relates to criminal intimidation, which provides for a jail term of up to seven years, a fine or both. Section 186 deals with the obstruction of a public servant and provides for a jail term of up to two years, a fine of up to RM10,000 or both.

When contacted on Tuesday, Petaling Jaya police chief Shamsudin Mamat said the probe was being handled by officials from the Bukit Aman federal police headquarters.

Noorizwan was arrested on Sept 20 and held at the Cheras police headquarters for 11 days without his family’s knowledge before being taken to Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz UKM on Sept 30. He was pronounced dead on Oct 1.

His family rejected claims by the Kuala Lumpur police chief that his arrest and detention were conducted in accordance with standard operating procedures.

On Oct 12, a senior forensic pathologist at the hospital reportedly confirmed to the family and their legal team that Noorizwan’s cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head.

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