Chapter 2 - Report of the Complaints, Monitoring and Inquiries Group
Migrant workers submit a memorandum to Commissioner Detta Samen on alleged abuses
under the 6P Programme
(b)
Death in Police Custody
As of the year under review, the Commission has requested the police to notify it of any death
in custody within 24 hours. The police responded in September; as at 31 December, eight cases
had been reported to the Commission.
The Commission is the process of drafting a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on handling
cases of death in custody upon notification by the police.
The Commission takes a serious view of death in custody. The right to life must be protected by
all parties. The safety of detainees cannot be compromised by the authorities. Accordingly, the
Commission recommends that the authorities implement the following procedures as standard
practice:
(i)
Conduct health screening when a person is arrested and detained;
(ii)
Contact the detainee’s family members for information on ongoing treatment or medication;
and
(iii) Immediately refer detainees who are ill to a medical practitioner.
(c) Preventive Detention Laws
(i)
56
Internal Security Act 1960 (ISA)
The authorities responded to the repeal of the ISA by releasing 19 detainees before
the expiry of their detention order. They were freed in August, October, November and
December (Chart 1).