KUALA LUMPUR: A 59-year-old man detained for a drug offence died in custody at the Setiawangsa police station lockup on Tuesday (July 25).
Bukit Aman Integrity and Standards Compliance Department director Comm Datuk Seri Azry Ahmad said the suspect was initially held under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 on July 6 and placed in the lockup.
"On July 18, the detainee was rearrested for another offence and detained in the same lockup.
"The detainee claimed to be suffering from a fever on July 21, was sent to Hospital Kuala Lumpur for treatment, and brought back to the lockup on the same day," he said in a statement on Wednesday (July 26).
The detainee's cellmate reported seeing him having trouble breathing and slumped against the wall of the cell on Tuesday, he added.
"The hospital was contacted immediately and an ambulance arrived to take him for treatment.
"A doctor from the Emergency and Trauma Department examined the detainee and confirmed his death," he said.
Comm Azry said a post-mortem will be conducted on Wednesday to determine the cause of death.
'The department's Criminal and Custodial Death Investigation Unit will investigate," he added.
