Fourth cop charged with murder of detainee

KUALA LUMPUR - The police inspector who was on the run for 44 days and surrendered on Monday was charged at the magistrates' court today with the murder of detainee N. Dhamendran who died in police custody.

Insp S. Hare Krishnan (pix), 40, was charged with the murder at the serious crime unit of the CID (D9), 7th floor, Kuala Lumpur Contingent Headquarters (IPK) between 12.20 noon to 2.50pm on May 21, 2013.

He is alleged to have committed the offence together with three others – Sergeant Jaffri Jaafar, 44; Corporal Mohd Nahar Abd Rahman,45; and Corporal Mohd Haswadi Zamri Sahari, 32.

The penalty for murder charge under Section 302 of the Penal Code is death sentence.

Magistrate Nur A'minahtul Mardiah Md Nor fixed Aug 2, 2013 for a mention.

DPP S.Nithia said she is waiting for the final post-mortem and DNA report.

The post-mortem examination conducted at the Kuala Lumpur General Hospital on May 22 revealed that the cause of death was determined to be "diffused soft tissue injuries due to multiple blunt force trauma".

Dhamendran was arrested on May 11, 2013 on suspicion of attempted murder involving firearms and had been held under remand from May 12, 2013 until his death on May 21.

Hare, who was attached to the Kuala Lumpur serious crimes division, was the officer investigating Dhamendran. He alleged that he was framed and made a scapegoat by his superiors. He lodged a police report on June 1 claiming he never manhandled Dhamendran but knew who is behind the assault.