Hello … is anyone looking into the Kugan file?

By Wong Choon Mei

Despite having completed investigations into the murder of car theft suspect Kugan Ananthan some four months ago, neither the Attorney-General nor the police top brass are willing to proceed with the next course of action.

In fact, not only were neither party unwilling to tell reporters what they planned to do next, it is not even clear if they planned to do anything at all!

“I am not going to say anything, I am at a meeting,” Attorney-General Gani Patail told a news portal.

Mohamad Bakri Mohamad Zinin, police criminal investigation department director, was just as quick to pass the buck.

“It’s up to the Attorney-General’s Chambers to charge,” he shot back.

Licensed to kill

The 22-year old Kugan hit the headlines early this year when his family stormed a morgue where his body was kept after a government autopsy. He had died while in police custody and the post-mortem report had alleged that death was due to fluid in the lungs. It also did not mention the extensive bruises that covered Kugan’s body.

A public uproar ensued, with the police trying to hush up accusations of brutality by counter-accusing Kugan’s relatives and friends of tampering with his corpse. The group of some 50 had gone to the morgue after receiving a tip-off.

Amid the hail of criticism that followed, the AG decided to classify the case as murder after photos and video footage emerged, plainly showing Kugan’s injuries and making it impossible for the authorities to issue any credible denial.

A second post-mortem, initially refused by the police, was also allowed. This second autopsy, performed by an independent expert, showed Kugan died from torture and beatings.

Forty-one external marks from bruising and branding with heated metal tongs - yes, much like a cow - were detected. Kugan was also starved and continuously hit with a blunt object until his kidneys finally collapsed.

That was he really died. Not because he was sickly and had water in his lungs.

“I hope the police hang their heads in shame, institute reforms and stop putting obstacles in the implementation of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission,” his family lawyer N Surendren had said.

“Kugan had hemorrhage in many of his internal organs, his heart, left lung, spleen, kidneys, back of his neck, spine area and the sole of his feet which shows that he took consistent beatings.”

Meanwhile, 11 policemen at the USJ8 lock-up where Kugan was murdered have been transferred to desk duty at the police headquarters in Selangor. But again, no further action has been taken so far.

Neither the Attorney-General nor the Inspector-General of Police seem to want to be reminded that there is such a case in their outstanding tray.

But Kugan is dead. His family deserves justice and accountability, while Malaysians are entitled to a better police force - where crime-busters rule, not licensed murderers.

Source : Suara Keadilan