Safety of persons in custody must be assured - law minister

Any person in the custody of any law enforcement agency must be assured of his or her safety, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Liew Vui Keong.

He was commenting on the decision by the Johor Bahru High Court which ruled that the family of Syed Mohd Azlan Syed Mohamed Nur, who died in police custody in November 2014, be awarded compensation.

“There must be accountability and any person in the custody of any law enforcement agency must be assured of their safety," Liew (above) said in a statement issued last night.

Liew, who is the minister in charge of law, stressed that the government would continue to pursue the establishment of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC), which would have the authority to look into such cases independently and ensure accountability.

“The IPCMC will not only hold the police accountable, but as part of its statutory mandate, it will also act on issues pertaining to the welfare and interests of the police force," he said.

Liew said the government would re-engage with all stakeholders, including the police and the people, in its efforts to refine the IPCMC Bill.

He said the government also welcomes any additional recommendations to the bill.

- Bernama