ANNUAL REPORT 2019 Conclusion After receiving feedback from police and forensic doctors, SUHAKAM found no use of force and no bruising on the deceased. The death of Gopal Krisnan s/o M. Rajalingam SUHAKAM investigated the death of Gopal Krisnan s/o M. Rajalingam who was on remand at Sungai Petani Prison. He died at Hospital Sultan Abdul Halim, Sungai Petani, on 30 July 2019. There was an allegation that Gopal Krisnan was beaten in prison, leading to his death. Based on Sections 4 (1) and 12 of the SUHAKAM Act, SUHAKAM began its investigations on 18 August 2019. SUHAKAM conducted three meetings with the Sungai Petani Prison, Forensics Department of Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah Alor Setar, Medical Department of Hospital Sultan Abdul Halim, Sungai Petani, and Kuala Muda District Police. SUHAKAM interviewed 10 prison staff, one medical officer at the prison, two medical assistants and five cellmates of the deceased. According to his cellmates, Gopal was taken to hospital almost one week after he experienced poor appetite and intermittent fever. During his detention, Gopal Krisnan was sent to the prison clinic four times. On 24 July, he vomited and urinated in his pants while inside the cell. He was then referred to the prison clinic. After an examination, the prison doctor directed that he be taken to hospital for immediate medical treatment. All the prisoners interviewed denied seeing or hearing prison staff beating the deceased. The deceased was admitted to a ward for seven days at Hospital Sultan Abdul Halim. He was treated for infective endocarditis and was CHAPTER 1 The autopsy showed that the deceased suffered Massive Gastrointestinal Bleeding (UGIB) secondary to oesophageal variance with Hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver. There is an old scar or scratches on the body. An internal examination showed a change in the colour of the lungs due to smoking, shrunken liver, and damaged bladder. The forensic pathologist confirmed there was no external injury. The results of the post-mortem were explained to the family, and there were no objections from the family. 57