SERDANG, 12 March 2009: The special committee set up by the Health Ministry to investigate the two post-mortem reports into the death of A Kugan, the suspected car thief who died in police custody, held its first meeting today, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.
Speaking to reporters at Serdang Hospital here, he said the six-member committee would carry out a thorough probe into the two reports.
“They have been asked to expedite the probe and the findings will be made public,” Liow said.
Asked about the deceased’s family not wanting the Health Ministry to be involved in the investigation, Liow said it needed to be done to protect the ministry’s credibility and professionalism.
Kugan, 23, was detained at the Taipan police station in Subang Jaya on 15 Jan on suspicion of being involved in a syndicate that specialised in stealing luxury cars. He died while in police custody on 20 Jan.
The first post mortem report done at Serdang Hospital indicated Kugan died of fluid accumulation in the lungs while the second, conducted by the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre at his family’s request, showed his death was due to multi-organ failure as a result of severe beating.
Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail on 23 Jan had classified the case as murder. — Bernama
