Several weeks have passed since N. Dhamendran, an Indian-origin Malaysian died in custody at the Kuala Lumpur police contingent headquarters. Even as the names of three accused in the case have been revealed and convicted appropriately, authorities have not yet revealed the identity of the fourth cop, sparking speculations that they are trying to protect the fourth culprit.
Dhamendran's family on Thursday lodged a disciplinary complaint against SAC Datuk Ku Chin Wah, alleging that the Kuala Lumpur Criminal Investigation Department (CID) chief tried to cover up the cause of the detainee's death.
Ku Chin Wah had told national news agency Bernama on 22 May, a day after Damendran's death, that the detainee had died the previous night after complaining about chest pain and breathing difficulties.
While police had claimed that Dhamendran had passed away after a spell of breathing difficulties, post-mortem report had disclosed that the 31-year-old had been subject to brutalities before his death. Since then, the case has been classified as murder and the three officers were charged under Penal Code 302. The fourth culprit is still at large.
"We want the police to investigate him why he lied and attempted to cover up the murder case," said the family's lawyer G. Sivamalar, according to the Malaysian Insider. He added that Ku Chin Wah should have disclosed the detainee's cause of death before the autopsy report was out.
Dhamendran's wife Marry Mariya Susay urged authorities to publish posters of the fourth accused.
Dhamendran was arrested on 11 May in connection with Bandar Tun Razak shooting incident. He died on 21 May at the contingent headquarters while he was held on remand. Since then many more lock-up deaths have been reported, the last being that of 33-year-old Nobuhiro Matsushita who was found dead on Saturday in the Subang Jaya police station.
