Cops seek inquest into death in detention cell

OCPD Asst Comm Gan Kong Meng

GEORGE TOWN: The police are ex­­­pected to recommend an inquest into the death of a furniture shop helper who was found hanged in his detention cell at the Tanjung Tokong police station here.

George Town OCPD Asst Comm Gan Kong Meng said police were looking into all angles including whether there was any foul play.

He said the case was currently classified as sudden death.

ACP Gan said the findings would be submitted to the state’s prosecution head tomorrow with the recommendation for an inquest.

It was reported that shop helper Cheah Ching Lee, 36, was detained at the police station at 1.30am on Monday to facilitate police investigation into a motorcycle theft case.

However, he was found hanged in the detention cell at about 5.30am with the detention garments issued to him.

A post-mortem by Penang Hos­pital forensic pathologist Datuk Dr Bhupinder Singh had confirmed that Cheah died from asphyxia and there was no injury other than bruises on his legs, which were apparently from a fall he sustained a couple of days prior to his death.

Cheah’s mother Lim Gaik Suan, 66, was adamant that her son, the youngest of five siblings, could not have taken his own life.

“He had a stable job and so was his financial status. There’s no reason for him to kill himself,” she said between tears.

Family members said they would write complaint letters to the Inspector-General of Police and Human Rights Commission of Malaysia.

Cheah’s family lodged a report at Patani Road police station accompanied by Penang Suaram at about 5pm yesterday.

His brother-in-law Looi Chooi Aik, 45, said the family wanted the police to release CCTV footage of Cheah’s detention.

Source : Click