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FORMER Klang Member of Parliament Charles Santiago has demanded a fully independent inquiry into the death of M. Manisegaran, criticising what he describes as entrenched police impunity in cases of custodial deaths.
Manisegaran’s wife, S. Rajeswari, reported last seeing her husband alive at 8.20pm as he made his way home, only for him to be detained and transported by ambulance, later being declared dead upon arrival at Hospital Kajang.
Santiago said Rajeswari was left uninformed during the crucial hours following her husband’s detention and only received confirmation of his death after reaching the hospital in heavy rain.
“This is not confusion; it is obstruction,” he said, accusing authorities of withholding vital information.
Rajeswari has raised questions over apparent injuries on her husband’s body and received multiple, conflicting explanations for his death, ranging from a heart attack and infection to drug involvement and fluid in the lungs.
Santiago noted that cardiopulmonary resuscitation was cited as a cause of injuries, despite claims that no such procedure had been performed. “When a grieving widow receives three different causes of death in one sitting, credibility evaporates,” he said.
Highlighting broader concerns, Santiago cited data from the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission showing 430 deaths in police custody between 2011 and 2021.
He argued that these figures demand urgent reforms and the establishment of an independent oversight body with authority to investigate and prosecute misconduct.
“The police’s insistence on investigating themselves only deepens public mistrust,” he said, adding that families often struggle to access even basic documentation related to deaths in custody.
Santiago reiterated calls for the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC), warning that delays in its establishment allow a “culture of impunity” to persist.
“No widow should have to beg for transparency,” he said. “A fully independent, transparent investigation into Manisegaran’s death is not only overdue, but the bare minimum required to restore even a shred of public confidence in the police force.”
Rajeswari and her family continue to await official reports as they seek answers surrounding Manisegaran’s death. - December 4, 2025
