KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 2 — Bukit Aman will submit its investigation papers into the death of detainee Noorizwan Zulkefly at the Cheras district police headquarters lock-up to the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) on Wednesday, along with its recommendations.
Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director Datuk M. Kumar said the investigation, which was recently taken over by the department, was being conducted under Section 331 of the Penal Code.
He said police would await further instructions and advice from the AGC after submitting the investigation papers.
Kumar also confirmed that the detainee had sustained significant physical injuries, which a forensic pathologist had verified were not self-inflicted.
However, he said the cause of death remained under investigation, and police could not yet establish whether the injuries had contributed to Noorizwan's death.
“What I can confirm is that there were physical injuries, which were confirmed by a specialist forensic pathologist, and they were not self-inflicted,” he told a press conference at Menara 2 Bukit Aman here.
Separately, Kumar confirmed that police had received a report lodged by a doctor involved in the case over alleged harassment.
He said investigations were being conducted under three provisions of the Penal Code, namely Section 506 for criminal intimidation, Section 186 for voluntarily obstructing a public servant in the discharge of their duties, and Section 189.
Kumar said investigations into the doctor's report were ongoing and further developments would be announced.
Noorizwan, 42, died on October 1 while in custody at the Cheras district police headquarters lock-up.
News reports quoting family members and their lawyers indicated that Noorizwan had sustained nearly two dozen severe injuries, based on preliminary postmortem findings.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has ordered a thorough, transparent and uncompromising investigation into Noorizwan's death in police custody.
Bukit Aman had classified the case under Section 331 following a statement recorded from a forensic medical consultant at Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz who conducted the postmortem, Kumar was previously quoted as saying.
The consultant confirmed signs of external injuries on several parts of the deceased's body that were consistent with blunt-force trauma and were not self-inflicted, Kumar said.
The case has since drawn national attention and renewed public scrutiny of the government's pledge to reform detention procedures and end custodial deaths.
Addressing Parliament last week, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail pledged transparency in the investigation and said officers found responsible would be punished.
