KUALA LUMPUR: A public hearing to determine if there was any breach in police Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in the case of N. Dharmendran, who died in police custody, has started.

The hearing by the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) will see it calling key people involved in the case to determine if there was any misconduct by police officers.

On the first day of the hearing yesterday, police photographer Kons Mohd Khairil Anuar Mansor, the wife of the deceased, M. Marry, and his father V. Narayanasamy were called to testify.

EAIC commissioner Vinayak Pradhan, during the proceeding, clarified that no criminal elements will be discussed in the inquiry by the agency.

“This inquiry is only to ascertain if there were any shortcomings or misconduct in the handling of the case under the Integrity Commission Act,” he said at the commission’s premises here.

Ten people are expected to be called for the first session of the inquiry between July 27 and 31.

A total of 60 people are expected to testify throughout the hearing, which is open to the public.

Family members, police officers, medical officers, pathologist and magistrates involved in the case are expected to appear before the commission.

Through the hearing, the agency aims to identify and investigate the rules, methods, SOP and any other methods used by the police in dealing with persons in detention and persons in custody.

It also aims to determine if there was any breach of protocol that led to the death of the accused, and also if there was any miscon-duct by officers involved in the handling of the case.

On May 21, 2013, Dharmendran collapsed at the Dang Wangi police headquarters after complaining of chest pain.

Insp S. Hare Krishnan and three other police officers were charged with causing his death but were acquitted by the High Court on Dec 12 last year.

Insp Hare Krishnan, 40, was jointly charged with murder with Sjn Jaffri Jaafar, 44; Kpl Mohd Nahar Abd Rahman, 45; and Kpl Haswadi Zamri Shaari, 32.

Resources: The Star Online