27-05-2025
Cop awaiting sentencing found dead in cell at Perlis prison
KANGAR: A police officer in custody was found dead at the Perlis Correctional Centre in Guar Nangka on Monday (May 26), Sinar Harian reports.
Arau OCPD Supt Ahmad Mohsin Md Rodi told the Malay language daily that the death was reported to the police by staff at Hospital Tuanku Fauziah at 5:25pm Monday.
"An officer on duty at the Arau district police headquarters received a call from Hospital Tuanku Fauziah, Kangar, informing them that an inmate from the Perlis Correctional Centre had passed away," he said.
He explained that preliminary investigations revealed the deceased, aged 28 from Terengganu, was an officer from the Perlis contingent police headquarters, who had been detained under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.
"The deceased had been held at the Perlis Correctional Centre, Guar Nangka since March 17, 2023, and was awaiting sentencing by the Kangar High Court.
"On Monday, at around 8am, the deceased was instructed to be taken to the Kangar Magistrate's Court for a hearing, but he refused to attend," he told Sinar Harian.
Supt Ahmad Mohsin clarified that the deceased was visited hourly by the warden on duty and was observed to be sitting quietly or lying on his bed.
"Then, at around 4:30pm, the warden making the rounds tried to wake the deceased, who was thought to be sleeping, but found that he was no longer moving and immediately instructed that he be taken to the hospital.
"At approximately 5:10pm, the hospital confirmed that the deceased had arrived in a 'Brought In Dead' (BID) condition," he said.
Further investigation revealed that the deceased was placed in Blok Damai, Perlis Correctional Centre, with two other inmates.
"The deceased also had a psychiatric record that had been referred to several hospitals since 2017.
"Preliminary investigations by the investigating officer found no criminal elements against the deceased that could point to a cause of death," he said.
The body was then taken to the Forensic Department at Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital, Alor Setar, for an autopsy on Tuesday (May 27) to determine the exact cause of death.
According to Ahmad Mohsin, the body is expected to be transported back and buried in his hometown in Setiu, Terengganu, upon completion of the autopsy process.
