Detainee suffered from health-related symptoms prior to death: Health DG

PETALING JAYA: S. Thanabalan, the 38-year-old detainee who died in the Shah Alam central lock-up, had suffered from symptoms of fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea and lack of appetite four days before he died, according to Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.
"On the night of April 17, he (the detained) suddenly became unconscious and was immediately taken to the Shah Alam Hospital (HSAS) Emergency Department.
"During the examination by the medical officer at the Emergency Department, he was found to have died. The cause of death is presently unknown, pending the outcome of the post-mortem report at the HSAS," he said in a statement today.
Following investigations at the lock-up, Noor Hisham said 10 detainees complained of various health-related symptoms there.
"Nine detainees have mild symptoms such as cough and cold, while one case involved complaints of abdominal pain and diarrhea. Seven of them were given on the spot treatment at the Shah Alam central lock-up by a medical team from the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital (HTAR), while three of the detainees were referred to the HSAS's Emergency Department for treatment and were subsequently discharged," he said.
He pointed out that the health team from the district health office and the Selangor Health Department are actively conducting prevention and control activities at the Shah Alam central lockup.
"This includes daily health monitoring activities on the Shah Alam district police personnel and detainees. If found unhealthy they will be referred to the nearest health facilities for inspection and treatment.
"While hygiene inspections at the Shah Alam district police headquarters have also been carried out including inspections on hygiene and safety of food supplied. These checks are still in progress," he said.
Based on the inspections conducted, Noor Hisham added that the condition in the lock-up was clean and controlled.
"The Health Ministry will continue to monitor the situation and any developments will be communicated from time to time," he stated.
Noor Hisham's response came after the police suspected the death of Thanabalan may have been due to a possible viral outbreak.
Selangor police chief Commissioner Datuk Mazlan Mansor had said the inmate, who was being held under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma), was found unconscious at the Shah Alam central lockup at about 8.20pm on Tuesday.
The deceased, was arrested for suspected involvement in notorious underworld gangs. He was detained on March 29 after sending his son to school in Kapar, Klang.
He was among the detainees taken as part of the operations codenamed Ops Spider and Ops Api Reload under Ops Cantas Khas, which saw 63 gang members arrested, including two key members who hold the honorific titles of Datuk Seri and Datuk.