Indian-origin cop in Malaysia wanted for custodial death

Singapore, July 17: Police in Malaysia have put on their wanted list an Indian-origin officer for the death in police custody of another Indian-origin man.

Police inspector Hare Krishna Subramaniam is being sought by police as he has not shown up for work since June 15 and also as he is wanted for the custodial death of N. Dhamendran earlier this year, the Malaysian Star Wednesday quoted senior Kuala Lumpur police officer Ku Chin Wah as saying.

Three other Malaysian policemen have already been charged with the death of Dhamendran, a lorry driver, in police custody.

In a magistrate's court in Kuala Lumpur June 5, Jaffri Jaafar, 44, Mohammad Nahar Abd Rahman, 45, and Mohammad Haswadi Zamri Shaari, 32, confirmed that they understood the charges in connection with the death of N. Dhamendran, 32, in the police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur May 21.

Dhamendran was detained May 13 along with three others to assist police in an investigation into a May 11 shooting incident in Bandar Tun Razak area of Kuala Lumpur. Two other Indian-origin men sustained injuries in the incident.

Police said Dhamendran May 21 complained of chest pain and was taken to hospital for treatment but was pronounced dead on arrival at 9 p.m.

The post-mortem examination report later showed that Dhamendran's death must have been caused due to "diffused soft tissue injuries due to multiple blunt force trauma".

The incident sparked outrage among the ethnic Indian community in that southeast Asian nation.

The three already accused policemen will face the death sentence under Section 302 of the Malaysian Penal Code if found guilty.

IANS