Published: Thursday March 25, 2010 MYT 10:30:00 PM

Kugan screamed for help, court hears

PETALING JAYA: Suspected car thief A. Kugan screamed for help from police personnel when experiencing breathing difficulties in January last year, the Sessions Court here heard Thursday.

L/Cpl Mohd Sani Mohd Sarip, 42, who is attached to the serious crime unit of the Subang Jaya police headquarters, said he and other policemen present including Const V. Navindran then rushed to the suspect to render aid.

“We tried to lift him up and make him rest with his back leaning on a wall but he appeared to have difficulty breathing,” said Mohd Sani during examination-in-chief by Deputy Public Prosecutor Abazafree Mohd Abbas at the trial of Navindran, who is charged with two counts of causing grievous hurt to Kugan, 23.

On Oct 1 last year, Navindran, 28, had pleaded not guilty to committing the offences at the interrogation room of the Taipan police station, USJ, Subang Jaya, at 7am on Jan 16, 2009. Kugan died on Jan 20 last year while in police custody.

Mohd Sani said prior to the breathing incident, ASP Rodney Pasla Harris had visited Kugan for 30 minutes at the Taipan police station lock-up because the suspect had stated he would provide information on where stolen luxury cars were hidden.

He said after Rodney came out together with other police personnel and were chatting at the outside counter of the station, he heard Kugan calling Detective Corporal M. Paramasimban to give him some water.

Mohd Sani, the prosecution’s 15th witness in the case, said a few minutes later Kugan started screaming for help, and after he and his colleagues checked on his condition, he reported back to Rodney as to what had happened.

He said Rodney, who was outside, then ordered Navindran to get a doctor from a nearby clinic.

During the proceedings, Mohd Sani had also explained that Kugan was healthy and never experienced any injuries while in custody.

Asked by Abazafree about the suspect’s demeanour while in custody, Mohd Sani the suspect was initially uncooperative and preferred to keep silent but later become cooperative.

He added that in all the times he handed over duties to his colleagues pertaining to the suspect, he never noticed any injuries on Kugan.

The hearing before Judge Aslam Zainuddin continues Friday. -- Bernama

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