Suhakam slams Taiping prison warden for lying at public inquiry
KUALA LUMPUR : The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) today accused a Taiping prison warden of lying during a public inquiry into the alleged abuse of over 100 inmates, questioning his inconsistent statements in light of video evidence.
During the third session of the inquiry, prison officer Raja Masrul Azan Raja Mansor, 29, was repeatedly grilled over his role in a controversial operation earlier this year that allegedly led to the death of one inmate and injuries to many others.
Suhakam chairman Hishamudin Yunus, who also chairs the inquiry panel, rebuked Raja Masrul for attempting to downplay his involvement in the incident and for claiming uncertainty over what was shown in a CCTV footage.
'You say that you're not sure, but the video clearly shows you hitting the inmates. How do you expect us to believe you?' Hishamudin asked.
When Raja Masrul insisted he did not intend to harm anyone, Hishamudin said: 'It's so obvious that you had hit (them). Why do you keep lying? Your baton struck a prisoner who was already on the floor.'
The officer earlier admitted that he was equipped with a baton and pepper spray during the incident while several colleagues wore body armour and carried shields.
'I was given a baton and pepper spray. That's what we prison wardens normally carry. After the briefing, we were ordered to go to Hall B. It was chaotic. I saw some inmates not cooperating with the officers,' he said.
When asked if force was used because some inmates refused to cooperate, Raja Masrul replied: 'I didn't see anything.'
Pressed further, he denied using force himself but later admitted seeing injuries on some inmates after the incident. 'I saw some with injuries on their heads and bodies,' he said.
Raja Masrul was then questioned by the panel on the legality of him bringing a mobile phone into the prison, after he admitted taking pictures during the incident.
'I was ordered by my officer-in-charge (OC) to take photos of what was happening. I was just following orders,' he said.
Raja Masrul maintained he did not record any video footage, but could not explain why the CCTV appeared to show him holding a phone and chasing an inmate.
Asked whether he could see himself hitting a prisoner in the footage, Raja Masrul said: 'I'm not sure. I tried to hit but it didn't land.'
Hishamudin: Then why did you raise your baton?
Raja Masrul: I don't remember.
The panel also questioned his claim that he was merely trying to scare the inmates.
'I didn't hit them. I was just trying to scare them and the baton accidentally struck the inmate,' Raja Masrul said.
This prompted Hishamudin to question Raja Masrul's credibility. 'If you're lying about this, how can I believe you only took photos and didn't record videos?' he asked.
The prison officer then said he could not remember whether he recorded a video or only took pictures, adding that he had been ordered to record the incident and hand it over.
In yesterday's inquiry session, the panel also reprimanded deputy superintendent Teuku Hasbi Tarmizi over his evasive answers when questioned on the details of the incident.
Suhakam is holding a public inquiry to investigate claims that some 60 prison wardens assaulted inmates at Taiping prison on Jan 17. The fourth session of the inquiry is scheduled to take place from July 23 to 25.
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