EAIC to investigate death of inmate in lockup

PETALING JAYA: The Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) will investigate the death of lockup inmate Soh Kai Chiok at the Bera District Police Headquarters (IPD) in Pahang on Jan 18.
EAIC chairman Datuk Yaacob Md Sam said the commission is to determine if there are any criminal elements in the Police's handling of Soh and whether if it contributed to his demise.
Yaacob said the probe is also to determine how did the incident happen, if Standard Operation Procedures (SOP) are violated, and the individuals responsible for the death.
He then said the reputation of enforcement authorities in Malaysia has taken a blow as deaths in custody has yet again reared its ugly head.
"EAIC views the incident seriously and regrets the deaths in custody which keeps repeating in this country. The integrity and credibility of enforcers should not be tarnished and must be preserved from such incidences," Yaacob said in a statement today.
He then urged all enforcement agencies with lockup facilities to not compromise on SOP and take EAIC's recommendations for improvement seriously.
Soh was suspected of stealing bananas and was investigated under Section 379 of the Penal Code but was found to be unconscious in lockup, and was confirmed dead at 12:15am.
The case is being investigated under Section 24 of the EAIC Act.