Eliminating Deaths And Abuse In Custody Together (EDICT) said it was a signal from the court that any act that causes death in custody is improper and should not happen at all.

Earlier today, the court awarded housewife Rahaya Salleh, the mother of Kamarulnizam Ismail, a sum of RM290,000 in general damages and RM40,800 in dependency claim.
It also awarded her a special payment of RM10,000, legal costs of RM35,000 and funeral expenses of RM2,000.

Rahaya had filed a suit against the government, the police and the Prisons Department in 2017 for assault and negligence after Kamarulnizam died at Tapah prison. However, the court set aside an order of RM150,000 in damages for unlawful detention and misfeasance in public office.

In a statement, EDICT thanked the lawyers who handled the case “from the earliest stages at the inquest until today at the Court of Appeal”.

It said the government should be upset with every death in custody that occurs as it would only harm them and the people.

“The government is reminded to immediately rectify and take all measures to deal with cases of deaths in custody. Lock-ups, prisons and detention centres must be upgraded, kept clean and meet human rights standards,” it said.

It also said additional training should be given to police personnel and prison and immigration officers on how to treat detainees in a more humane manner.

“It is hoped that all parties can work together to achieve zero in the number of deaths in custody,” it said.

Kamarulnizam was sent to prison on March 3, 2014 to serve a two-week sentence after pleading guilty to charges under the Penal Code and the Minor Offences Act.

His father, Ismail Ahmad, went to the Bukit Mertajam court to settle the fine but Kamarulnizam wanted to serve the jail term as he had intended to use the money to repair his car.

The family was represented by M Visvanathan, Sanjay Nathan Visvanathan and R Karnan.