Kugan’s Death: Re-classfied as Murder, Officers Re-assigned

24 January 2009
Kuala Lumpur

Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail has directed police to classify the death of suspected car thief A. Kugan as murder after he met Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar and viewed photographs of Kugan’s body. The photos were taken by the police and some members of the public at the Serdang mortuary.

While previously Kugan’s case was under Section 330 of the Penal Code which indicates voluntarily causing hurt to extort a confession, it has now been classified under Section 302 of the Penal Code.

22-year-old Kugan was arrested for suspected to be involved in several luxury car theft cases. During the two-week remand at the Taipan police station in USJ, Subang Jaya, he collapsed and died on Tuesday. Kugan had led police to recover 13 luxury cars which were about to be exported.

As for the mob which stormed into the mortuary on Tuesday night, forced hospital staff out and locked themselves in for two hours, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan condemned such actions. The mob is believed to have taken photos of Kugan’s body, showing physical bruises all over.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Senator T. Murugiah was also informed of the case re-classification by Abdul Gani and that the police would investigate the case thoroughly and bring the culprits to court as early as next week. Murugiah also had his police statement taken as he was present at the mortuary on Tuesday.

Kugan’s family had decided to send his body on Wednesday to the University Malaya Medical Centre a second post-mortem to be performed by an independent doctor. Selangor police chief Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar said they had to seek a court order to allow for the post-mortem.

Meanwhile, Abu Bakar said that 11 constables and lance corporals have been removed from their positions at the same police station where Kugan died and had their statements taken. They have since been re-assigned to desk duties at the contingent headquarters.

The Star Online – A-G asks police to classify case as murder
<URL:http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/1/24/nation/3112245&sec=nation>

New Straits Times Online – Kugan’s death now classified as murder
<URL:http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Saturday/Frontpage/2462288/Article/index_html>

New Straits Times Online – Kugan Murder: 11 police personnel assigned to desk duty
<URL:http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Saturday/Frontpage/2462289/Article/index_html>

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