IGP orders CID to take over probe into Cheras custodial death

Inspector-General of Police Khalid Ismail has ordered Bukit Aman’s criminal investigation department to investigate the death of a 42-year-old man in Cheras police custody on Oct 1.

While police are still waiting for the full laboratory report to determine the cause of Noorizwan Zulkefly’s death, Khalid said there were unusual external injuries on the detainee’s body.

“Yesterday, as you may know, the integrity and standards compliance department (JIPS), which investigates deaths in custody, issued a statement on the matter.

“Based on what we have seen, there are several unusual injuries that require attention. I have asked the CID, particularly its director, M Kumar, to conduct an investigation as soon as possible,” Berita Harian quoted him as saying.

He also instructed the federal CID to give periodic updates on the investigation.

Noorizwan was arrested on Sept 19 in connection with an investigation into drug possession, theft, and a break-in, and held at the Cheras police headquarters.

He was sent to Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz UKM on Sept 30 and pronounced dead the following day.

Yesterday, Bukit Aman JIPS director Aida Abdul Hamid said Noorizwan did not suffer any internal organ injury but sustained several external injuries.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim later ordered Khalid to ensure a thorough and transparent investigation into Noorizwan’s death.

Earlier today, lawyers acting for Noorizwan’s family disputed JIPS’s findings that he did not suffer any internal injury, and questioned why the case was still being investigated as a sudden death.

The lawyers demanded that the police open a murder investigation, and appealed to Attorney-General Dusuki Mokhtar to step in.