At a press conference here, Eliminating Deaths and Abuse in Custody Together (EDICT) president M Visvanathan said despite police investigations, details surrounding Atif Abu Bakar’s death remain uncertain.
Atif’s father, Abu Bakar Ja’afar, said his son was “healthy and cheerful” on Dec 17, 2022, when he left the family home in Rompin for Mersing, where he was pursuing a course at the Mersing Industrial Training Institute.
However, Abu Bakar said he received a call from his son later that night claiming he was unwell and requesting that he be picked up from his dormitory.
Abu Bakar said he rushed to Mersing the next morning and came across his son walking shirtless along a road near the training institute, “seemingly possessed”.
Atif got into the car, said Abu Bakar, but then alighted and kept walking down the road towards his dormitory. However, a teacher at the institute later reported him missing, Abu Bakar added.
Efforts by the police, the institute and Atif’s family to find him were unsuccessful.
Atif’s elder brother, Aiman, said he was notified by the police the next morning that Atif had been “found dead” in a surau. The family was asked to go to Mersing Hospital to identify the body.
A post-mortem revealed that Atif had died due to traumatic asphyxia. A total of 53 injury marks were found on his body, leading the family to believe that he was beaten to death.
Abu Bakar said the police subsequently informed the family that “nine or 10 people” had been arrested in connection with the case, but no charges were brought against them.
He also said police told the family they would continue investigations into the case.
Frustrated at the lack of updates after two years, Abu Bakar said he lodged a police report on Sept 15 this year.
“On the same day, police issued us a letter stating that they will not investigate the case further as it involves a non-seizable offence,” said Abu Bakar.
The police advised Atif’s family to refer their case to the magistrates’ court for further action under Section 108(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code.
The section provides that when any information given to a police officer relates to the commission of a non-seizable offence, that officer shall refer the informant to a magistrate.
“The police, in this case, seem to have played down the significance of Atif’s death.
“This is very disappointing and should not be happening. We will take appropriate legal action if there is no feedback from the authorities,” said Visvanathan.