Brunei's Local News - Brudirect.com

Bandar Seri Begawan - An independent forensic pathologist from Singapore was brought in to assist local medical experts in the autopsy of a man who recently died in police custody.

The 45-year-old Chinese Muslim convert, Abd Rahim Abdullah Tan @ Tan Tong Hock, was found unconscious in a police detention cell on January 25 and pronounced dead by medical services who were immediately alerted upon discovery by police officers on duty.

The deceased, who was arrested along with a few other suspects on January 21, was allegedly being detained and interrogated for their involvement in various criminal offences. However, the police did not mention the offences.

Earlier, his family had said that it received information about the arrest and subsequent death in police custody and it was asked to

collect Tan's body from the morgue on January 25.

The brother of the deceased, who happens to be a member of the police force, is also in the dark. There are a number of uncertainties as no other information or explanation regarding the unfortunate incident has been given.

Queries regarding his arrest such as why he was arrested and where he was initially detained were met with nothing more than statements and guarantees that a full explanation will be given once the matter is thoroughly investigated, said the brother.

"I was told only to wait until investigations are completed, but for how long, I don't know" added the brother when contacted yesterday.

According to Acting DSP Hjh Nur Haidah Hj Abd Halim, acting head of RBPF's Public Relations Unit, during a press conference yesterday at the Gadong Police Headquarters, a formal police report was lodged concerning the victim's death and further investigations are currently under way.

The case has been assigned to the Serious Crimes Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) which will he responsible for carrying out an "impartial investigation". As the investigation will include questioning of police personnel involved, results of their findings as well as reports from the independent medical examiner will be filed and referred to the Attorney General's Chambers. Police have ruled out foul play in the cause of his death. This, however, will be determined by the Attorney General's Chambers at a later date. The deceased's family members are still searching for, answers as to whether the death was due to medical reasons such as heart failure, shock or even internal injuries caused by the possibility of use of force while being interrogated, said the brother. If investigation files reveal that a criminal offence was committed, those involved are liable to be charged to the fullest extent of the law, said a retired law practitioner. Depending on the results, once a formal complaint has been made by the family, a case against those involved will then be brought to court where the family can seek compensation depending on whether or not they suffered a loss as a result of his death, he added. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times