Family seeks urgent meeting with AG as Noorizwan’s death joins list of police-linked cases awaiting justice

The family of Noorizwan Zulkefly, the 42-year-old whose death in the custody of Cheras police last month sparked public outrage, is seeking an urgent meeting with Attorney-General Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar, and has questioned the direction of the police investigation despite revelations of severe head trauma and other serious injuries.

In a letter addressed to Dusuki, lawyer Latheefa Koya said the family was concerned that no police officer had been arrested or charged more than one and a half months after his death.

"Our client is deeply concerned about the direction of the police investigation into this matter, and we believe that the Attorney General’s Chambers holds the responsibility and the authority to exercise oversight in this case.

"Please be informed that, to date, no arrests have been made, nor have any charges been brought against any of the police officers involved in the death of Noorizwan," the letter said.

The letter also highlighted a post-mortem report from Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (HUKM), which found injuries across Noorizwan's body, including bleeding in the brain and serious injuries to the head, legs and feet.

The family further questioned why the investigation was classified under Section 331 of the Penal Code, which concerns voluntarily causing grievous hurt to extort a confession or information, instead of Section 302, which deals with murder.

The letter said the matter involved public interest and the safety of detainees in police lock-ups nationwide.

It marks yet another attempt by the family to seek justice for Noorizwan's death, one of a series of high-profile cases pointing to police brutality that have been mired in controversy due to delays in bringing charges despite evidence.

In 2024, it took authorities more than five months to charge a police officer for assaulting deaf e-hailing driver Ong Ing Keong, despite the incident being captured on dashcam and evidence pointing to cover-up attempts.

The case sparked protests and a debate on the rule of law in the country. The culprit was fined RM1,000 after pleading guilty to assault. Ong has since filed a suit against the policeman, the inspector-general of police and the Malaysian government.

Meanwhile, the police shooting of three men in November last year has yet to see any criminal charges being brought, despite the incident being captured in a forensically examined audio clip of an unfinished phone call that challenges the police claim of self-defence.

Noorizwan was arrested and brought to the Cheras police headquarters on Sept 20, where he spent the next 10 days in the lock-up. The family said they were not informed of his arrest or whereabouts while he was held in custody.

His brother Nooranis said the family was only contacted by police at about 8pm on Oct 1, informing them that Noorizwan had died in police custody at 1.52am the same day, some 18 hours earlier, after he was brought to HUKM.

A forensic examination later revealed that Noorizwan had suffered extensive injuries across his body and head, as well as bruising and torn tissue on his back, chest, arms, legs and the soles of his feet, and at least six broken ribs.

The controversy intensified after Kuala Lumpur police chief Fadil Marsus said police procedures had been followed and described the case as a sudden death, while urging the public not to speculate.

Fadil also fuelled public outrage by attempting to play down the injuries found on Noorizwan's body, saying it was normal for "minor injuries on a drug addict" to appear worse after death.

Police have meanwhile launched a criminal investigation into three lawyers representing Noorizwan's family, accusing them of pressuring HUKM into revealing autopsy photographs.