In its overview last December, Suaram had said there were only two deaths in police custody in 2016.
However, according to Suaram project coordinator Dobby Chew, the actual number of deaths might have been 15.
“In 2016, Suaram documented only two cases of deaths in police custody but these deaths were, unfortunately, only the tip of the iceberg,” he said during Suaram’s 2016 Human Rights Report launch at the Kuala Lumpur Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall today.
“A question on the matter of death in police custody was posed to the home ministry in the March 2017 parliamentary session. The home ministry’s answer in Parliament showed that between 2000 and 2016, there were 284 deaths in police custody and that only two deaths were attributable to police.
“From the numbers given, it is clear that there were more than two deaths in custody. We found that there were actually 15 deaths in 2016 based on data from previous years.”
In fact, according to Suaram’s report, the number of deaths in police custody actually increased in 2016, with 15 deaths, compared with 2015 when there were 12 deaths.
Suaram has recommended that the Royal Malaysia Police suspend all officers responsible in the event of a death in custody, for all officers in charge of a station to be placed under investigation in the event of a death in custody, and that timely updates on investigations and relevant information be publicly announced through press statements or press conferences.
“Events in 2016 make it clear that the existing system of oversight and criminalisation of police abuse of power is highly inadequate and the current institutions and mechanisms need to be improved and strengthened to ensure justice for the victims of human rights violations and to eliminate abuse of power by enforcement agencies.”
The 2016 Human Rights Report is Suaram’s 19th report since 1998.
Chew was the documenter, director and writer of this year’s report.