KUALA LUMPUR: A police corporal said that his wife, son and other members of his family suffered badly during his detention to assist with investigations into the death of N. Dharmendran, who died while in police custody.

Corporal Mohd Haswadi Zamri Shaari of the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters' (IPK KL) Serious Crime Division (D9) said he was remanded for over a year at the Sungai Buloh prison, here.

"I was kept in jail for one year, six months, and seven days, over an uncertain offence pertaining to the report of a re-arrest (Dharmendran's case).

"I, Inspector S. Hare Krishnan, Sergeant Jaffri Jaafar and Corporal Mohd Nahar Abd Rahman (who were also remanded pertaining the same case) were acquitted on December 12 2014 by the High Court, without calling for our defence. My wife and child suffered for more than a year," he said.

He was testifying as the 41st witness in the third session of a public hearing by the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) pertaining the death of N. Dharmendran while in police custody on May 21, 2013, at the Hearing Room on the 13th floor of Menara TH Perdana here, today.

Mohd Haswadi Zamri, who had worked at IPK KL's serious crime division since 2003, was also involved in managing Dharmendran's arrest in May 2013.

Mohd Haswadi said since Dharmendran's arrest on May 11, 2013, he was only assigned to deal with the victim several times, that was to bring Dharmendran from the Dang Wangi police headquarters to IPK KL, bringing him to meet his family at the police station, and to take his pictures for police records.

"I did not deal much with Dharmendran as I had other duties or operations. Dharmendran entered the lock-up (IPK KL) on May 13, only on May 19, I brought him to meet his family, on and May 21, I brought Dharmendran to take a picture," he said.

He said he was only informed of Dharmendran's death after he had returned home on May 21.

Following Dharmendran's death, four policemen from IPK KL were arrested and charged with causing it.

On Dec 12, 2014, the High Court acquitted the four police officers of murder charges, because it found no prima facie case against them.

The hearing continues on Thursday.

-Bernama