Lawyers dispute police findings on Cheras custodial death

Noorizwan Zulkefly, a 42-year-old man, passed away on October 1st while in police custody at the HUKM hospital. His family's lawyers have challenged the police's assertion that Noorizwan did not sustain any internal injuries during his detention. The autopsy conducted by a HUKM pathologist revealed that the deceased had suffered significant brain and intestinal bleeding, which can lead to death. The photographs from the autopsy clearly demonstrated these injuries.

This evidence contradicts the police's public statement that the cause of death was only due to external injuries, with no internal trauma. The lawyers also questioned why the federal police stated that the cause of death was pending laboratory analysis when the pathologist had already concluded that Noorizwan died from blunt trauma to the head. The findings from the blunt trauma cannot be altered by further lab analysis of blood and other samples.

The lawyers expressed their disbelief that the police are still classifying the case as sudden death instead of murder, given the evidence that has come to light. They urged the Attorney-General to order a murder investigation and for a special team within Bukit Aman to take over the case. They also demanded that the policemen suspected of being involved in Noorizwan's death be suspended and detained while the investigation proceeds.

Noorizwan was arrested on September 19th for suspected drug possession, theft, and a break-in and was taken to the Cheras police headquarters. He was transferred to the HUKM hospital the following day and was pronounced dead. Recently, the Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim, directed the Chief Inspector-General of Police to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into Noorizwan's death.