Police arrest three naval guards over death of two detainees

LUMUT: Three guards at the naval detention centre in Sungai Wangi in Sitiawan, Perak have been arrested by police over the death of two detainees last Friday.
Perak CID chief SAC Datuk Gan Tian Kee said the three men, aged 29, 37 and 44, were picked up on Saturday at 9.30pm and remanded until Oct 7 to facilitate investigations.
Gan said post-mortem reports from the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital revealed both the deceased died from injuries caused by blunt trauma.
Police have also recorded statements from 11 guards, seized seven batons, log books and handphones as part of their investigation .
Nik Muhammad Baihaqy Nik Mat, 28, and Muhammad Lailatuliman Mohd Syukri, 26, who were under detention died in the incident.
Nik Muhammad Baihaqy was on a 45-day detention after being found guilty under Section 58 of the Armed Forces Act 1972 for failure to perform duties.
Muhammad Lailatuliman, 26, was under detention for failing to report for duty without prior leave approval.
The men, with Able Seaman rank, were not friends and served in different units.
Meanwhile, navy chief Laksamana Tan Sri Ahmad Kamarulzaman Ahmad Badaruddin said the navy's board of inquiry has started investigations if the standard operating procedure (SOP) was followed during the detention of the two personnel.
He said the five-member board, headed by a navy Captain, started its inquiry on Saturday.
"It will look at all aspects of the SOP and also the validity. For now the detention centre will function as usual.
"Our focus will be on the various components of the SOP whether it is valid, comprehensive and relevant while police will conduct investigations on the criminal elements of the incident.
"We will not compromise or protect our personnel if they are found to be at fault," he told reporters after presenting Pingat Jasa Malaysia (PJM) to 51 former PASKAL personnel (former special operations force of the navy) at its headquarters here today.
Ahmad Kamarulzaman also noted the two personnel were healthy before they were sent to the detention centre.
"The men underwent a medical examination by a doctor before they were sent to the centre.
"The detention process will go on despite the incident ... a personnel not reporting for duty on several occasions is a serious offence," he said.
Ahmad Kamarulzaman said he had briefed Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and Armed Forces chief General Tan Sri Raja Mohamed Affandi Raja Mohamed Noor on the incident.
"We sympathise with the families and assure them justice will be served," he added.
Hishammuddin took to Twitter to extend his personal condolences to the families of the deceased.
"I have instructed the RMN to provide its full cooperation to the police in their investigations. Nothing will be hidden. That is my promise," he tweeted.
Meanwhile, the remains of Muhammad Lailaltuiman and Nik Muhammad Baihaqy were buried in a military ceremony at the Rantau Panjang Muslim ceremony and Kampung Limbat Muslim cemetery in Pasir Tumboh near Kota Baru respectively today.