Police station where Balamurugan died not meant to hold detainees, hearing told

PUTRAJAYA, June 5 —  The lock-up facilities at the North Klang district police headquarters where S. Balamurugan died in custody were not gazetted, a former investigating officer told a public hearing today.

Inspector Mohd Noor Husri Johari said this during the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) inquiry today, which is investigating S. Balamurugan’s death at the Klang Utara district police headquarters on February 8 this year.

He explained that Balamurugan was held in the lockup facilities there because there wasn’t a suitable alternative to place him.

“There was no other suitable place,” he said, adding that he was not aware that the district police chief had issued a directive that no detainees should be kept there.

Husri was previously investigating Balamurugan and three other suspects in relation to a robbery case in the district.

At the same time, Husri revealed that Klang Utara district CID chief ASP Norasnizam Nordin did not order a medical check-up for Balamurugan despite being informed of his health condition.

Instead, Norasnizam had ordered Balamurugan to be re-arrested after the Klang Magistrates Court had denied the police’s remand application, he said. 

“He (Norasnizam) sent me a Whatsapp message, asking me to re-arrest Balamurugan and file a new police report so we can file a fresh remand application. 

“There are no orders from Norasnizam to take Balamurugan to the hospital,” he said.

Husri said a senior investigating officer had told a WhatsApp group to allow Balamurugan to receive medical assistance.

“But, I did not want to take the risk... The blame would be on me if anything happens without Norasnizam’s clearance.”

On February 7, the police had filed an application for a seven-day remand for Balamurugan. However, the court had rejected the application to remand Balamurugan, who was visibly weak and had dried blood on his mouth during the proceeding.

Last month, the public hearing was told that the police had ignored the court order to release Balamurugan, who would later succumb to injuries inflicted while in police custody.

A pathologist had noted that blunt force trauma consistent with beatings had contributed to Balamurugan’s death, as he already had existing heart conditions and liver disease.