The Kugan episode — The Malaysian Insider
JAN 28 — Two years ago today A. Kugan was buried, eight days after he was found dead in a police lock-up.
But today, police Constable V. Navindran walked out a free man after the Sessions Court in Petaling Jaya found him not guilty of causing grievous hurt to Kugan who was detained on suspicion of being a car thief.
In making his decision, judge Aslam Zainuddin said today the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against the constable.
In other words, it was a sham trial and just to appease those baying for blood after another death in police custody. There have been 1,535 custodial deaths between 2003 and 2007, according to statistics released by the government. No further statistics have been made available since then.
But the Kugan trial went on with Navindran in the dock, a measure to take pressure off the police as it immediately silenced the noise surrounding the young man’s death.
Following Kugan’s death, 11 rank-and-file policemen were transferred to desk duty at the Selangor police headquarters. Yet, only Navindran was charged with causing grievous hurt.
However, the court found the prosecution could not prove its case. But surely, even in Zimbabwe or Myanmar, the prosecution or the Attorney-General’s Chamber must be more competent than Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail and his colleagues.
A case has been thrown out today without the defence being called is a nice way of the court telling the prosecution — you were rubbish.
It begs the questions whether high-profile cases such as Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik and Datuk Seri Khir Toyo would also be show trials. That all the hopes of resolving a myriad of cases involving public figures can actually come true.
For the MIC and the various Indian non-governmental organisations, Kugan’s show trial is the ultimate slap on the face. No one was serious about this case, from the police to the prosecution until the sole policeman charged with an offence is now free.
How many more will have to die in custody before the authorities wake up and ensure it never happens again and perpetrators get their just desserts?
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