PUTRAJAYA, June 8 ― Deceased detainee S. Balamurugan was trembling violently while being detained at the Shah Alam police centralised lockup, the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) public hearing was told today.

This was revealed by a supervisor at the Shah Alam centralised lockup, who also noted that Balamurugan reeked of a strong alcohol smell in detention.

“When we first received him from the Klang Utara district police headquarters, he was trembling very hard and he couldn’t stand straight.

“I asked him why was he shaking, but he didn’t answer me,” Corporal Muszanizam Mustaffa said.

Subsequently, Muszanizam asked another “case mate” who arrived together with Balamurugan on the latter’s condition.

“He then told me that Balamurugan was addicted to alcohol.”

Balamurugan, Ang Kian Kok and K. Tamilarasan was detained at the Bandar Baru Klang police station on Feb 6 at 6.45pm.

After being subjected to an interrogation session, Ang was transferred to the Banting district police station at around 8pm. Balamurugan and Tamilarasan was transferred to the Klang Utara headquarters at 11.45pm and subsequently, the Shah Alam centralised lockup at 3.30am on the next day.

Subsequently, Bar Council lawyer R. Sivaraj grilled Muszanizam, pointing out that Tamilarasan couldn’t converse in Bahasa Malaysia at all.

“You are not telling the truth. Tamilarasan couldn’t speak in proper BM. He needed a translator in the earlier hearing session.”

Muzsanizam replied, saying he couldn’t ascertain the exact identity of the “case mate”, as there are many detainees who arrived at the lockup at the same time.

However, Corporal Ridhwan Mohammad, who first brought Balamurugan and Tamilarasan from the Bandar Baru Klang police station to the Klang Utara district police headquarters said that there was no alcohol smell at all.

“Both could walk and there were four officers escorting them.

“There was no smell of alcohol in the car and Balamurugan was walking in a straight line.”

Lance corporal Mohd Taufik Awang, who was Ridhwan’s partner, said Balamurugan and Tamilarasan looked tired when they were being transferred in the police vehicle.

“They were both sleeping. In fact, Balamurugan was snoring.”

The EAIC public hearing today was to investigate the case of 44-year-old Balamurugan, who died in custody on February 7 after suffering alleged multiple beatings from officers attached to the Bandar Baru Klang police station.

The second session ended today and the third session of the public hearing will resume on July 10.

Resource : The Malay Mail Online