Families demand answers over 3 custodial deaths

(From left) R Remecca, Edict chairman M Visvanathan and R Meenambigai at the press conference today, holding copies of the death certificates and police reports lodged over the deaths of R Richard and MM Muniandy. PETALING JAYA: The families of three men who died in prison are demanding immediate inquests into their deaths, saying their repeated requests to the authorities have gone unanswered.

Eliminating Deaths and Abuse in Custody Together chairman M Visvanathan, representing the families of R Richard, G Murthy and MM Muniandy, said the families had written several times to the relevant authorities and coroners' courts but had yet to receive a response.

Speaking at a press conference today, Visvanathan urged the Attorney-General's Chambers to invoke Section 339 of the Criminal Procedure Code to direct coroners to hold inquests into the three deaths.

He said inquests should be held whenever a custodial death occurs, whether in a police lock-up or prison.

Richard, 34, who had schizophrenia and was registered as a person with disabilities, was arrested on Aug 16, 2025 over alleged property damage and detained at Sungai Buloh prison.

His sister, R Remecca, said the family learnt of his death about a month later, after being informed that he had been found unconscious in prison and taken to hospital.

She said she approached the police and prison authorities for an explanation but was dissatisfied with their response.

"They kept on changing the stories. I was not satisfied with their answers. A forensics report said there were no external injuries, but some internal injuries. I am not sure whether he was fine or somebody hit him in prison," she said.

Murthy, who also reportedly had a mental health condition, died on March 8, 2025 at Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital in Alor Setar.

Visvanathan said Murthy's family was not informed of his arrest and raised concerns over the medical treatment he received while in custody.

Meanwhile, Muniandy, who was detained at Kajang prison, died on April 13 this year. His wife, R Meenambigai, said he was detained over a domestic violence case and that she had hoped he would return home rehabilitated.

Visvanathan said a post-mortem examination revealed blunt force trauma to Muniandy's neck that caused inflammation of his airway. Muniandy subsequently required a tracheostomy and spent an extended period in the intensive care unit before his death.

Visvanathan urged the relevant coroners to obtain the necessary investigation papers from the authorities to facilitate inquests into the three deaths.