Juveniles, adults in same holding cells due to overcrowding

PUTRAJAYA: Overcrowding in the Shah Alam Centralised Lockup often results in juveniles and adult detainees being placed in the same holding cell.
Chief of the Shah Alam Centralised Lockup ASP Mazhar Mohamad said the facility can hold a maximum of 234 detainees.
"By right the big cell can hold eight suspects and the small one three. But sometimes we don't have a choice because there will be too many suspects arrested.
"This is also the reason why sometimes juveniles are placed with the adults," he said at the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) inquiry yesterday.
The inquiry heard that in S. Balamurugan's case, a juvenile detainee was placed in the same cell as the adult suspects and was not separated.
Mazhar said that entries of detainees into the lockup were manually recorded and only entries for Shah Alam was computerised.
"We segregate detainees by district — Shah Alam, Petaling Jaya, Klang Utara, Klang Selatan and Sungai Buloh. When we receive the detainees there will be checks to ensure that the person is well and healthy. If they are sick or injured, we cannot place them in the lockup and they must be taken for treatment," he said.
He added that police officers would conduct the body checks to ensure this, however the standard operating procedure (SOP) on how the checks are done could not be ascertained.
"Officers can go through the system to download the manuals for further information."
Mazhar also said a significant number of cells in the Shah Alam Centralised Lockup are not functioning and could not be utilised.
Out of 88 cells, 19 were not usable due to water leakages, clogged toilet, lighting problems and similar issues.
He said the problems pertaining to the cells have been reported to Bukit Aman.
Meanwhile CCTV footages from Shah Alam Centralised Lockup taken when Balamurugan was brought in from IPD Klang Utara before being taken to the Klang Court shows him walking slowly where he appears to be disoriented at times.
Balamurugan was found dead in IPD Klang Utara in the early hours of Feb 8.
The inquiry continues today.