from fighting among detainees and another 2 cases due to falling accident at the lockup’s bathroom. The statistics also show injuries due to foul play by police have led to
2 cases of death.
The establishment of Coroner’s Court in every state is seen as a positive step to
investigate the factors of deaths in custody comprehensively. The scope of the court
assists in determining whether the deaths occur due to misuse of power by the police
or health problems suffered by the detainees.
Chapter 4 – Management and Facilities of the Infrastructure in the Lock-ups:
Observation
The visit to lock-ups concludes that there are numerous of problems and difficulties
such as inefficient ventilation system, overcrowded lock-ups and limited space for
sleeping as well as poor quality of prepared food which does not conform with the
standards set out in national law or regulations and international standards, for
example in the Nelson Mandela Rules. This is happening due to financial constraints
and bureaucracy which complicate the maintenance and improvement of the lock-ups.
Chapter 5 – Health Issues and Other Factors of Death: Observation
Based on the death statistics and feedback from PDRM during the visits, the
Commission affirms that the main cause of deaths in police custody is related to health
reasons, followed by the deaths caused by detainees own actions and foul play by the
police. As there have been no medical officers who handle the medical screening on
detainees, it further complicates the lock-up administration to evaluate the health
status and healthcare needed though it is compulsory to carry out medical screening
when a suspect is detained as stated in Lock-up Rules 1953. Besides, PDRM
personnel are not trained to give emergency aid if needed. These factors have
influenced the deaths in custody due to the ongoing constraints.