KUALA LUMPUR — The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) has urged immediate action against prison officers who assaulted inmates at Taiping Prison last year, stressing that claims of “double jeopardy” do not justify inaction.
Action taken against only one officer was insufficient, given video evidence that showed the involvement of other prison wardens, the commission said in its report on its public inquiry into the January 17, 2025 incident in which more than 60 masked and armed officers allegedly beat 100 prisoners.
Suhakam chairman Datuk Sri Mohd Hishamuddin Md Yunus dismissed claims by Prisons Department commissioner-general Datuk Abdul Aziz Abdul Razak that taking disciplinary action would result in double jeopardy.
He said this was legally incorrect, as double jeopardy only applies to repeated court proceedings involving the same matter.
“Failure to take any action against the prison personnel involved would create the impression that they enjoy special privileges and are immune from the law,” he added.
According to Hishamuddin, disciplinary measures should have already been taken as surveillance footage clearly showed misconduct by prison personnel.
“(There is) clear CCTV footage evidence demonstrating the misconduct of the said prison personnel, as well as the absence of a specific investigation by the police and subsequent court charges over the acts of violence, despite more than a year having passed since the incident occurred,” Hishamuddin added.
Prison warden Ryndee O'Nel Victor, 25, was charged on December 19, 2025 with causing the death of inmate Gan Chin Eng, 62. He pleaded not guilty to a charge under Section 304(b) of the Penal Code for culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
Police had also failed to carry out a dedicated criminal investigation into the alleged violence by prison guards, while bureaucratic delays within the Attorney-General’s Chambers slowed the filing of court charges.
Suhakam said these shortcomings denied victims due process, violated the constitutional principle of equality before the law under Article 8 and created public perception that government officers are protected from prosecution.
On January 17, 2025, a peaceful sit-in protest by more than 100 detainees at Taiping Prison turned into violence and alleged abuse by wardens. The detainees were objecting to a transfer to Block E, a section they described as severely dilapidated and overcrowded, according to Suhakam’s report on the matter published on the commission’s website.
The inquiry heard that shortly after detainees were ordered to vacate Dewan B, more than 60 masked and armed prison officers entered the hall and allegedly assaulted detainees despite them complying with surrender instructions.
Detainees claimed they were beaten with batons, kicked, pepper sprayed and dragged while handcuffed. Some also alleged they were verbally abused and forced to apologise during the assault.
Following the incident, detainees alleged that medical treatment was delayed or inadequate despite visible injuries.
Some were only given painkillers and gauze, while hospital treatment for certain detainees reportedly took up to two weeks.
Families were also allegedly denied visits and informed that detainees were under “quarantine” after the transfer.
Suhakam’s inquiry began in June 2025 and heard testimonies from detainees as well as prison officers.- May 25, 2026
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