The family of a disabled man who died in Sungai Buloh prison last month is demanding that an inquest be held to determine the cause of his death.
Remecca Robat said her brother, Richard, had a history of mental health illness, including schizophrenia, and was arrested last month for allegedly breaking a glass door at a spa in Sabak Bernam.
However, she said the family was unaware that Richard had been arrested until they were informed of his death.
“My aunt called me on Sept 21, saying my brother passed away in Sungai Buloh prison. I was really shocked,” she said at a press conference today organised by Eliminating Deaths and Abuse in Custody Together (Edict).
Remecca later learned that her brother had actually died on Sept 20, a day before the family was informed.
She also claimed a doctor had informed her that a post-mortem conducted at Sungai Buloh Hospital found signs of blunt force trauma on her brother’s body.
She lodged a police report on Sept 23 but has not received any updates.
“Until today, nobody has contacted us. Next week, it will be a month since he passed away,” she added.
Edict chairman M Visvanathan urged the attorney-general to stop rejecting inquest requests, saying that it was fair and reasonable for the family of the deceased to know how they died.
“Let there not be public outcry before you agree to an inquest. All we want is for one to be conducted so that the truth of how the poor man died is revealed.
“Put yourself in the position of the deceased’s family. You would also want to know how your loved one died,” he said.
