What do we really think of deaths in police custody? On 15th November 2009, J Saravanan was found dead in a cell in the Air Molek (Johor) Police Station where he had been detained. One police report said Saravanan committed suicide by hanging himself using a pillow case tied to a bar of his cell door.
Saravanan was a Malaysian, born to parents who gave him a name which means “peaceful.” He was last employed as a supermarket general worker.
Saravanan, 22 years old, was arrested by the police on 16 October on suspicion of killing his 47 year old mother, Malilla with an iron rod at their home in kampong MIC, Ulu Tiram (Johor). Saravanan is alleged to have cut and stuffed his mother’s body into a travel bag on 5th October. One newspaper reported that Saravanan killed his mother Malilla because she would not give him the money to buy a motorcycle.
Malilla’s two brothers saw Saravanan’s body in a morgue, covered with bruises, as if he had been beaten and punched. I do not know what kind of sister or mother Malilla was. I do not know what feelings the uncles’ harbour about their nephew who is alleged to have killed and cut up their sister. The uncles faced another un-natural death in their family, this time while in police custody. In his police report, one uncle stated that he believed the police, prison and hospital authorities would tamper with the evidence.
Saravanan had been detained in one police station for 27 days. He was then moved to another police station – and was found dead 4 days later.
Saravanan was awaiting trial. We do not know the evidence against him. We do know it was gathered by the Malaysian police and considered sufficient for prosecution by the Office of the Attorney General, Malaysia.
What a motley crew of characters. To-date none of them has been investigated. The dead and their relatives appear not to be from the “clean, muttering classes” – to which I suppose I and you belong. The “authorities” include those who work in hospitals, prisons, police stations and prosecution departments: most of whom the public holds in low esteem.
Was Saravanan guilty of murdering his mother? Of cutting her up? Did he act alone? Did he kill himself? Was he an unsavoury character long before the death of his mother? Could he have been reformed? Should our answers determine our response to his death in custody?
Should we rejoice that Saravanan is dead? Do we think justice has been served? Does it matter whether Saravanan killed himself, was killed by fellow detainees or was killed by police personnel? Should we applaud the police if their actions result in a suspect being so fearful of the future that he ends his own life – and saves us the cost and trouble of prosecution, judgment, sentencing and punishment?
I maintain that there should be an enquiry, and the results should be published.
I maintain that we should not prejudge the authorities: the police, prison guards, prosecutors, hospital staff. All must be presumed innocent until proven guilty.
I maintain that failure to go public – and to go to trial if warranted – is a cover-up.
The presumption of innocence must be maintained. The cost of maintaining this presumption is that any death in custody is unacceptable. You or I – whether public servant or victim – could be next. We can only be proud of our work and our citizenship if we insist on due processes.
