No one wants to harm detainees, says Gombak police chief
PETALING JAYA: Police have nothing to hide over A Ganapathy’s death, says outgoing Gombak police chief Arifai Tarawe in vowing transparency in the ongoing investigation into alleged abuse of the cow’s milk vendor while in police custody.
Arifai said many had misunderstood the case and that he wanted to correct some misconceptions which, he said, has affected the morale of his precinct’s officers and family members.
In an interview with FMT, he also spoke of how he and his family had been deeply affected by Ganapathy’s death.
“Ganapathy’s death, and then S Sivabalan’s death… these are some things that deeply upset us. No police officer wants any harm to come to any detainee, and I would like to say again on record, we did not harm any detainee under our custody.”
On the allegations that Gombak police had abused Ganapathy, Arifai said this was not true, and proceeded to repeat the case facts from his press conference on April 30.
He said Ganapathy was detained with another person on Feb 24 and remanded for 12 days until March 8 to assist in investigations of two cases – a factory robbery and an assault.
A day later, he said, Ganapathy informed police he was suffering from heart disease and diabetes, and received a supply of medication from his family the same day.
He said Ganapathy was taken to Hospital Selayang four times between Feb 28 and March 7 for treatment for a condition caused by old wounds he had sustained before he was arrested.
“The day Ganapathy was released from custody, the doctor who treated him confirmed that he had necrotising fasciitis (a condition that affects the tissues of the leg) and had to have his right leg amputated,” he said.
He said Ganapathy continued to receive treatment at the hospital but his health deteriorated and he died on April 18 after 43 days of treatment.
“A post mortem by the national institute of forensic medicine at Hospital Kuala Lumpur confirmed that he died of necrotising fasciitis in the right lower limb, complicated by sepsis.
“We brought Ganapathy to the magistrates’ court three times and the hospital four times, not once did he tell the judge or medical personnel that he had been abused by the police.”
Arifai said Ganapathy was represented twice by a lawyer from the National Legal Aid Foundation (YBGK) at the magistrates’ court and did not complain of any abuse.
Children mocked
Arifai shared how the case had taken its toll on his officers and also his family members.
“Having been in the public eye for years, I am used to criticism but I was really cut up when my children told me their friends said their father is a ‘bad guy’.
“They know what their friends are saying isn’t true, but they still feel hurt, and as a father, I feel heartbroken seeing them sad,” he said.
He said any allegations of abuse or police misconduct are damaging to members of the force and even when they were not true, it was hard to change perceptions.
“Who wants these types of labels? It doesn’t make sense that we would want to conduct ourselves in a way that leads the public to view us in a bad light.
“In the police, our creed is ‘society and the police are inseparable’, so we never want the public to see us in a bad light.”
He said this is why he had stated that he is open to an inquest after investigations are complete.
Lawsuit against FMT
On his RM10 million defamation suit against FMT, Arifai admitted that he was upset the reports on his transfer had included background on Ganapathy’s case.
“But after giving it some thought, I realised that there was no intention to portray me in a negative light, and that the press were just doing their job in reporting the news.
“That is why I decided it was best to resolve the dispute amicably with FMT. We agreed to meet, I explained my position and FMT made it clear there was no intention to cast me or my officers in a bad light.
“So, I am withdrawing the suit against FMT. The police and the press should work together while keeping each other accountable. We are not enemies.”
He also said the perception that he was transferred to Bukit Aman over Ganapathy’s death was not true.
FMT managing editor Dorairaj Nadason said he was glad the controversy had blown over and the air had been cleared.
“We have a very good, symbiotic relationship with the police and believe working together is important for the good of all.
“We also believe in journalistic integrity and believe there was no wrongdoing on our part. Now, we would like to continue working together with the police,” he said. - FMT
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