A Taiping prison warden was captured on CCTV spitting on an inmate, debunking his earlier claim that he fled from a hall to avoid being attacked by some prisoners.
At a Suhakam inquiry into the alleged abuse of over 100 inmates by 60 wardens earlier this year, chairman Hishamudin Yunus had questioned the warden, Ahmad Rizal Razan’s version of events.
Rizal had previously claimed, in his police report, that he ran from Hall B as he feared for his safety on Jan 16.
The inmates had gathered in the hall as they were to be transferred to another prison block.
However, Hishamudin said based on the CCTV recording, Rizal had not fled in haste.
“In fact, you raised your hands twice and spat (at the inmates),” Hishamudin said, before showing Rizal the footage.
Rizal, however, denied spitting on the inmates, saying he was merely speaking to them in an “aggressive” manner.
“I became emotional. Who wouldn’t? I don’t remember what occurred nor have I seen this video,” Rizal said.
Hishamudin then referred to the police report in which he claimed he had run from the hall as the inmates “rose to their feet and wanted to attack me”.
Hishamudin: So, this is not true?
Rizal: It’s the truth. I was pushed, then I left the hall in a hurry.
Hishamudin: But you never mentioned you were pushed in your report and then left the hall in a hurry. Instead you wrote ‘I fled the location because I thought they were going to attack me’. This doesn’t look good.
Separately Rizal, who is in charge of screening the prisoners, also claimed that he was consistently provoked by the inmates.
And on that fateful day, according to Rizal, the prisoners threatened to kill him.
“In all my 11 years never have I been threatened with murder. I was emotionally disturbed and I had to leave the hall to calm myself down,” he told the inquiry.
Suhakam is investigating the alleged abuse, which is believed to have resulted in the death of one inmate and injuries to several others.
