Stomped and beaten: Families of Sosma inmates slam Saifuddin for denying Thaipusam day prison assault

The family members of inmates detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) have hit out at Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution for denying that 30 prisoners in Sungai Buloh prison were assaulted by security personnel.

Speaking to MalaysiaNow, they said they had seen with their own eyes the injuries inflicted on the inmates during their weekly visits.

P Prem Sri, whose husband is among the 30 Sosma prisoners, said she lodged a police report on Feb 12, the day after Thaipusam, after learning that he had been taken to Sungai Buloh Hospital in a wheelchair.

"The day before, we were told that the inmates had been beaten up. After that, I contacted a lawyer for confirmation. I filed the police report later that day," she said.

However, the investigating officer told her that her husband's condition was due to a strike, not because he had been beaten.

Her husband, V Wilbert, used to work as a security guard. He was arrested in September last year on suspicion of involvement in organised crime.

Prem said that during a visit on Feb 16, she had seen injuries on her husband's knees and left leg, as well as the back of his head.

"He told me he and the other detainees were taken to a cell and beaten up by many security personnel," she said.

"The minister (Saifuddin) is lying when he says the incident never happened. I regret that his people never even met with the prisoners but insisted that there was no assault."  

A total of 32 Sosma prisoners had gone on a hunger strike on Feb 7. The following day, they were joined in their strike by their families outside the prison complex.

They are believed to have been beaten up on Feb 11 – Thaipusam Day – in an attempt to force them to stop their strike.
 

On Feb 13, Saifuddin said he had received a report from the prisons department stating that no assault had taken place.

"I received a full report. There was no beating," he said.

At a press conference yesterday, rights lawyer Latheefa Koya said the prisoners had recalled the details of the assault when they were brought to court on Feb 20. Among others, they said they had been beaten with batons, thrown against walls, and stomped on.

"The minister said they were taken to hospital because of the strike," said Latheefa of rights group Lawyers for Liberty.

"If it was the strike, why were their heads bandaged? At least three of them had bandages on their heads, and one of them was wearing a sling."

Until now, she said there had been no report of action against those responsible for the assault.

She also expressed concern over the lack of news confirming the incident or stating that the authorities would investigate.

M Kalaivani, whose husband is also among the Sosma detainees, likewise accused Saifuddin of lying, saying she had seen her husband's condition on Feb 13.

"His arms and rib cage were blue-black, and he was having trouble breathing," she said.

"He said he had been stomped on by security personnel along with the other prisoners."

Like Prem, Kalaivani, a mother of three, filed a police report later that day.

"But until today, I am still waiting for a call from the investigating officer."

According to a statement by her husband, the detainees were also forced to sign a document stating that they agreed to stop their strike. Only then were they allowed to be taken to hospital.

Lawyer N Surendran said the prisoners themselves had filed police reports after receiving permission from the court.

He said the court had also ordered that they be taken to Sungai Buloh Hospital for a check-up.

"We will be applying for the medical records," he said.