Cops: Nothing to hide over Orang Asli man’s death in custody
By T.N. Alagesh
KUANTAN: Pahang’s top cop says they have “nothing to hide” over the death of a 25-year-old Orang Asli man in custody.
“There were no criminal elements involved and the case has been classified as sudden death,” Pahang police Datuk Seri Yahaya Othman told the New Straits Times.
He said a post-mortem conducted at the Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital concluded that the man, Norazman Me, had ended his own life.
Norazman was found dead in his cell at the Pekan police headquarters on May 4.
“Police have not closed the investigations which are now being handled by Bukit Aman’s Classified Crime Investigation Unit,” he said when contacted today.
Yesterday, Norazman’s family from the Runchang Orang Asli settlement in Pekan called for an explanation from the police over the matter.
They said they have not received any updates on the case, including how Norazman was able to take his own life in the police headquarters when there were policemen on duty.
Norazman had been detained to assist in investigations into the theft of a motorcycle.
Yahaya today denied claims that the police had avoided Norazman’s family and said the police were ready to assist them.
“There is nothing for the police to hide and the family can meet us, or come to see me. We can explain and share with them what happened to Norazman,” he said.
Source: cops-nothing-hide-over-orang-asli-mans-death-custody