Chapter 2 – Legal Frameworks, Policies and Principles of Universal Human Rights on Deaths in Police Custody Even though there are national laws like Criminal Procedure Code and Penal Code concerning deaths in custody, these laws do not imply the definition of such cases. Instead they focus more on procedures in managing death investigations and inquest proceedings. For the purpose of research, ‘deaths in police custody’ is defined as the death which occurs during arrest or detention by the police including when one passed away if he fell sick or got injured during police detention and in the situation when one died on his way to get the treatment at medical premises during police detention or while getting the treatment at medical premises for cases which lead to ward admission while still in police custody. At international level, Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) of United Nations (UN) is established to prevent the torture and abusive acts whereas the Optional Protocol of CAT (OPCAT) is established to provide operational working framework for state members in order to fulfill their responsibility under CAT. Both CAT and OPCAT had been issued on 26 June 1987 and 22 June 2006 respectively and were being participated by 158 countries. However, Malaysia has not yet participated either CAT or OPCAT. Chapter 3 – Deaths in Police Custody Statistics The total number of death reported since 2000 till 2014 is 255. Although the total number of detainees who were being detained within the 15 years period was beyond the Commission knowledge, the average death of 17 cases per year is an alarming figure and it is very disturbing as the right to life is part of prominent non-derogable human rights. Based on statistics provided by PDRM, the main cause of death (in police custody) is due to health reasons which are 207 cases. The second highest factor is due to suicidal incidence with a total no. of 30 cases. Meanwhile, there are 2 cases resulted