How can a healthy young man die suddenly?
Police deny foul play in detainee’s death
If the police had not used excessive or criminal force, how can a healthy young man die suddenly?
Without a proper independent investigation it is premature, even presumptuous, to rule out foul play. At worst, a scuffle may produce bruises or even broken bones but definitely not death if the intention is not to maim or kill.
We see rough play in contact sport, for example rugby, but no player dies because he has been pushed about and tackled forcefully. The human body is not that fragile.
Every death in police custody has to have a coronial inquest and police internal inquiry. Too many innocent people are dying in police custody and causing unnecessary suffering to relatives and friends. The police can no longer be allowed to carry on this way.
Sleepy: There are three issues here:
1) Is the previous criminal history relevant to his death?
2) Was the death due to self or self-defence?
3) Is there evidence to prove death was not deliberate?
The OCPD said: “We did not instigate the death of this drug addict and criminal.”
Hypothetically, if the deceased was alive it may have prevented other crimes or even death through proper police intelligence, a wasted opportunity.
Caripasal: The youth is probably no angel. But to beat him to death is still a serious homicide by the police.
If he is indeed a drug addict, I doubt he has the power to fight the police to the extent of sustaining multiple fatal injuries. He must have been beaten severely, either during arrest or detention. Of course, nothing will happen to the police.
Vijay47: As expected, the first reaction of the police would be to paint a very disreputable picture of the victim. Let us concede that Syed Mohd was indeed a drug addict, had prior criminal records, and all in all was only qualified to join the police force.
How does that deprive him of being treated in a reasonable manner when being arrested? How is that every single death in police custody is attributable to “resisting arrest” or difficulty in breathing, or suicide?
It appears that the only method of arresting someone who does not go along peacefully is to kill him. Let us even concede that Syed resisted arrest, which would be a foolish thing to do when surrounded by a team of armed police officers. Did he have to die for that?
The really sad thing would be that since he has now been labelled a drug addict, many would piously say that Syed Mohd Azlan deserved to die.
Good story, Johor CID chief Hasnan Hassan. The inspector-general of police (IGP) would be so proud of you. As would the home affairs minister.
Mamadias: I feel sympathy for the parents but the reality is that there are too many jobless men going around on motorcycles robbing people and most of them are on drugs.
So if the police are getting rid of this of people then I feel safer for myself, my family and the society.
It’s always sad to lose a son like this but that is what happens if you don’t bring them up properly. A better upbringing would have helped.
Drngsc: Dear Mamadias. This young man has not yet been proven to be a bad hat. You have not proven that he has been running around on a motorbike, high on drugs and robbing people. Show us the evidence.
Would you like the police to enter your house, threaten your family, pull out your son, and the next time you see your son, he is dead with all kinds of marks on his body?
This is not a police state. This is a democracy (I am told), where there is supposedly rule of law. It could happen to you, whatever your upbringing.
Nobody should accuse anyone at the moment. All we ask is that a detail investigation be done, including a post-mortem and a reasonable explanation (a believable one) be given to the grieving relatives.
We would like to see how our Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) explain the body marks, and the cause of death in this otherwise healthy young man. A full investigation, please.
Survivor: Mamadias, what you said is certainly true, that there are rogue people committing crimes, some using arms. The duty of the police is to apprehend them. And once the crooks are apprehended it should be left to the due process of the law to take its course.
It is understandable that if the would-be robbers or thieves wield weapons, the police will have to use necessary force to disarm the crooks, even to the extent of having to injure or kill them.
But the police should not be overly trigger-happy, acting as executioner once the crooks are already disarmed and apprehended.
The worst-case scenario is the allegation where the police deliberately killing the suspect and then planting weapons on the deceased suspect. Well, this happened before.
Survivor: It is so easy for the police to deny foul play. For those who had experienced police harassment and even brutality, they would know the agony one had to go during interrogation.
Till you see the police waving a gun in front of you, you will never understand what it means. The police always deny harassment or using forceful means, but can we believe it?
Kilgore: When the people entrusted to upkeep the law are committing the worst crimes, you have a failed society.
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