Family files appeal to obtain CCTV footage of fatal Taiping prison riot

The family of Gan Chin Eng, a prisoner who lost his life during a riot at Taiping Prison in January last year, has taken a legal step to secure the CCTV footage of the incident. Gan, who was incarcerated for drug trafficking, perished after the violence, which saw approximately 100 inmates reportedly assaulted by 60 prison officers. Gan's son, Gan Thean Soo, is seeking to overturn a decision made on August 6 that denied the family access to the recordings. The case is currently under review by the Court of Appeal.

Gan Thean Soo's legal representative, Shashi Devan, explained that the family is appealing the ruling due to their intention to file a lawsuit against the authorities, claiming negligence and violations of legal obligations. The dispute revolves around the custody of the original CCTV recordings, which are held by the police as part of the ongoing investigations into the riot.

The government and Taiping prison contend that revealing the contents of the recordings might be prejudicial to ongoing court cases against the implicated prison officers. Furthermore, the footage is classified as an official secret under the Official Secrets Act.

Prison officer Ryndee O’Nel Victor has been charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder following Gan's death last year. Likewise, five other officers - Mohd Hairie Jumri, Saiful Azman Ibrahim, Ahmad Rizal Razali, Muhamad Mustakhim Abdul Rahim, and Nor Hafiz Izwan Jajam - are accused of assaulting three inmates during the riot that occurred on January 17, 2025.