Day: February 27, 2017

Lawyers claim gastritis-prone detainee died because cops didn’t allow medical treatment

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Source: The Malay Mail Online

Lawyer Eric Paulsen, who represented the family of the deceased P. Karuna Nithi, says a deputy public prosecutor had written to Coroner Datuk Jagjit Singh to reopen the inquest. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, July 1, 2015.

Lawyer Eric Paulsen claims that M. Thanaseelan died because the police didn’t allow him medical treatment while in custody.  – The Malaysian Insider file pic, July 1, 2015.

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 27 — Selangor police could have prevented the custodial death of M. Thanaseelan if they had followed lock-up rules and provided him with necessary medical treatment, lawyers for his family said today.

According to Eric Paulsen and Melissa Sasidaran, the 43-year-old man had died of a “perforated gastric ulcer” last Saturday while under custody of the Bukit Sentosa police in Hulu Selangor.

The lawyers cited from a post-mortem report which noted the deceased had a history of chronic gastritis and would have shown symptoms of the condition for at least a week prior to death.

“It is clear from the lockup rules the police must care for the wellbeing of all detainees including informing the medical authorities of any illnesses or injuries affecting detainees.

“Further, the lockup rules provide for situations where a detainee may not be fit to be further detained for example, if the person is seriously ill and ought to be admitted for medical treatment as in this particular case,” they said in a joint statement. Read more →

Documentary maker: Kelantan Forestry offered to settle case with RM1k fine

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Source: The Malay Mail Online

Over 200 Orang Asli had put up a blockade at the Balah Forest Reserve in Gua Musang since September 26 to prevent logs from being taken out from the area. — Bernama pic

Over 200 Orang Asli had put up a blockade at the Balah Forest Reserve in Gua Musang since September 26 to prevent logs from being taken out from the area. — Bernama pic

PETALING JAYA, Feb 27 — The Kelantan Forestry Department offered to drop a case against two journalists if they agree to plead guilty and pay a RM1,000 fine, documentary maker Jules Rahman Ong claimed today.

Ong and his cameraman colleague Too Chee Hung were arrested last month by state forestry officers while shooting a documentary on the plight of Orang Asli villagers defending their homes in forest reserves in Gua Musang.

Speaking to reporters here, Ong said the offer was made last Friday.

He also said the Forestry Department’s investigative officer in charge of the duo’s case had informed them that the investigation papers on their case have yet to be sent to the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC).

“(He) kind of persuaded us to just settle it out of court and pay the fine and plead guilty.

“In fact we told him if you have done your investigation and you are going to see the DPP, if that is the procedure, then go ahead,” he said, using the abbreviation for deputy public prosecutor.

He said the duo will not be paying the RM1,000 fine and will instead wait for the AGC to decided whether or not to press charges against them.

“To do that (pay the fine), I feel like I’ll be sending a message that it is ok for the government to curtail our rights to access of information. Read more →

13 tahun yang menyeksakan, lelaki terlepas hukuman gantung

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Sumber: FMT News

Shahrul Izani yang dijatuhkan hukuman gantung oleh Mahkamah Tinggi Shah Alam pada 2009 atas kesalahan mengedar 622g kanabis mendapat pengampunan diraja. Sementara itu, Pengarah Eksekutif Amnesty Malaysia Shamini Darshni berkata pihaknya bersama badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) lain termasuk Majlis Peguam menggesa satu moratorium dilaksanakan segera. Katanya, “Beberapa kali sejak 2010 dibincangkan kebarangkalian memansuhkan hukuman gantung, tetapi sehingga kini tidak ada. Dua peguam negara dan 3 menteri undang-undang sudah berubah.”

Pengarah Eksekutif Amnesty Malaysia Shamini Darshni bersama ibu Shahrul, Sapenah Nawawi mengucapkan terimakasih atas pengampunan diraja oleh Sultan Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah terhadap hukuman gantung yang dijatuhkan ke atas Shahrul Izani Suparman oleh Mahkamah Tinggi Shah Alam pada 2009 atas kesalahan mengedar 622g kanabis

Pengarah Eksekutif Amnesty Malaysia Shamini Darshni bersama ibu Shahrul Izani Suparman, Sapenah Nawawi mengucapkan terimakasih atas pengampunan diraja oleh Sultan Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah terhadap hukuman gantung yang dijatuhkan ke atas Shahrul oleh Mahkamah Tinggi Shah Alam pada 2009 atas kesalahan mengedar 622g kanabis. Gambar dipetik dari FMT News.

PETALING JAYA: Hanya tangisan syukur dan ucapan terima kasih mampu dikatakan seorang ibu apabila dimaklumkan anak lelakinya terlepas hukuman gantung selepas mendapat pengampunan diraja.

Sapenah Nawawi, 58, berkata, beliau dimaklumkan oleh pegawai penjara agar hadir ke penjara Sungai Buloh pada Isnin lalu.

Menurutnya, tidak dapat dibayangkan perasaan takut ketika itu kerana khuatir akan diberitahu tarikh hukuman gantung tetapi sebaliknya apabila diberitahu anaknya mendapat pengampunan diraja oleh Sultan Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.

Shahrul Izani Suparman, 33, dijatuhkan hukuman gantung oleh Mahkamah Tinggi Shah Alam pada 2009 atas kesalahan mengedar 622g kanabis mendapat pengampunan diraja.

“Saya seronok, gembira dan rasa percaya tak percaya beliau dibebaskan daripada hukuman gantung.

“Sesungguhnya berkat doa seorang ibu, kawan dan semua, beliau terlepas hukuman gantung,” kata Sapenah pada sidang media di sini hari ini. Read more →

Dignity for Meera — Azrul Mohd Khalib

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Source: The Malay Mail Online

BY AZRUL MOHD KHALIB

Tragic end: Sameera was found dead with a gunshot wound and her body mutilated in Jalan Pasar, Kuantan. Pic taken from The Star Online.

Tragic end: Sameera was found dead with a gunshot wound and her body mutilated in Jalan Pasar, Kuantan. Pic taken from The Star Online.

FEBRUARY 27 —This past week, we have been sickened by the case of Sameera Krishnan. A worker at a florist, she was attacked by masked individuals who repeatedly shot and slashed her with an edged weapon resulting in severe wounds to her head, arms and legs. She did not survive the attack. Her body was found in the wee hours of the morning.

The reasons behind such brutality and her murder can only be speculated at this point. The degree of cruelty and savagery needed to inflict such harm on another human being is often unable to be understood or seen unless you work in criminology or law enforcement.

But for many who work who work in the area of human rights, particularly dealing with sexuality, acts of abuse and violence can be an altogether familiar story.

While this incident has been considered by police to not be a hate crime, I want to take this opportunity to once again to highlight the incidences of harassment, discrimination and abuse experienced by the transgender community.

The Federal Constitution guarantees the protection of minorities against the tyranny of the majority. It provides for all Malaysians the same fundamental rights and protections. That all persons are equal before the law and entitled to its equal protection. A person shouldn’t and cannot be singled out or criminalised for simply being who and what they are.

I hope that there will be justice for Meera and that the authorities will do all that they can to find, capture and bring the perpetrators to court. But it can be a daunting task for members of this community to look for justice when they themselves are often victims of persecution. Read more →

Activist: New system needed to fight child sexual abuse

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Source: FTM News

Child rights activist says Malaysia's system is outdated, and an estimated 750,000 cases of child abuse occur every year. -- Pic from FMT News.

Child rights activist says Malaysia’s system is outdated, and an estimated 750,000 cases of child abuse occur every year. — Pic from FMT News.

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia needs a system that allows for real change, not just ideas and proposals if it hopes to effectively combat sexual abuse of children, a child rights activist says.

In a statement today, chairman of Suriana Welfare Society Malaysia James Nayagam said a lack of commitment, implementation and follow-up under the present system were the main reasons why sexual abuse of children continued to occur.

Nayagam, who has been an activist in the field for over 35 years, criticised the lengthy legal process of reporting child sexual abuse, and said that it currently took more than five years for most cases to be reported.

According to a survey conducted by the NGO, he added, even after a case was reported, the victim continued to faced substantial trauma due to prolonged court proceedings and postponements that sometimes took years before the court reached a decision. Read more →