Mohd Ali Othman was jailed on Feb 3 this year after being convicted of possession and using drugs. His family said he was in good health then.

His sister, Siti Halijah Roseland, during a press conference with reporters this morning said she had already lodged a police report over the matter.

Family lawyer M Visvanathan said he would be submitting a letter to the Attorney-General’s Chambers requesting for an inquest.

Siti claimed Ali’s condition had deteriorated until he died on July 29. Prison authorities had claimed he died of Category 4 Covid-19.

However, Siti said the prison had never informed the family that he was sick.

Siti said Ali’s wife was earlier informed that he had scabies (“kudis api”) when he called her in mid-May.

Ali told his wife he had only been able to receive treatment at the prison clinic a week later to treat his problem.

Siti said when Ali’s wife contacted the prison officials, they told her to go to the Kluang Hospital to sign a consent form for an operation on her husband. “They did not tell her what disease Ali had or any other details,” Siti said.

Later on, the prison officials called the wife again to inform her that the operation had already been carried out.

When Siti called the hospital, she was told her brother had been operated on in the abdominal and intestinal areas due to a bacterial infection.

“I was not satisfied and I called the prison on June 17. I was connected to the clinic and they told me he had been treated and was fine.”

However, Siti claimed her brother called his wife again on July 8 to complain that he was in a lot of pain and was unable to walk. That was the last time his wife had heard from him.

Visvanathan said it was premature to pass off the death as a Covid-19 case.

He added that police had also called Siti at 11 last night, asking that she meet police at 1pm today.

“It is not appropriate for the police to tell her she would not need to bring her lawyer,” he said.

Visvanathan stressed that anyone had the right to bring a lawyer when recording statements under Section 112.

He also urged the government to ensure all prisoners and detainees were vaccinated against Covid-19.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST DATA ON THE COVID-19 SITUATION IN MALAYSIA

We are live on Telegram, subscribe here for breaking news and the latest announcements.