Deputy superintendent Khairul Esmail Zawawi, 31, one of the prison’s top five officers, told Suhakam that he filed the report at the Taiping police headquarters after preparing a draft based on information he had gathered.
He admitted that the report – which claimed that the more than 100 inmates were the aggressors – did not reflect what actually happened.
“I agree that the report was not entirely true,” he said after being shown CCTV footage that contradicted his version of events.
When asked whether the report was false, he replied: “Yes.”
Khairul also acknowledged that he did not personally witness any inmate attacking prison officers. When pressed further, he said the purpose of the report was “more of a cover report, to prevent other parties from manipulating the situation”.
He was testifying during the third session of Suhakam’s inquiry into the Jan 17 incident, which resulted in the death of one inmate and injury to multiple others.
Khairul also revealed that the report was made on the order of the prison’s deputy director, who also contributed to the contents of the report.
When asked if everything stated in the report was false, Khairul said: “Not everything.” However, he acknowledged that there were discrepancies, including the claim that the inmates had attacked the officers first.
He said his report was partly based on information received from other officers, including a sergeant who claimed to have received treatment for injuries at Taiping Hospital.
“I didn’t see the attack myself, but maybe there were inmates who were aggressive,” he said.
The panel then asked: “Is it fair to say your police report is fake?”
Khairul replied in the affirmative, acknowledging that filing a false police report was against the law.
Khairul, who has served as deputy superintendent at Taiping prison since 2022, also gave details of what he witnessed on Jan 17, when the mass transfer of inmates from Hall B to Block E took place.
He said he was on duty from 2.45pm to 9pm that day and noticed 40 to 50 officers heading to Hall B carrying batons, shields and other gear.
“I wasn’t directly involved in the transfer, but I saw officers escorting inmates in a rough manner,” he said.
He said some officers used batons to strike inmates on their legs, which he agreed was unnecessary.
When asked whether he had intervened, he said he was positioned about 20 to 30 feet away and could not control the situation despite shouting.
He also cited the presence of higher-ranking officers, including the prison’s deputy director, as a reason for not taking control of the situation.
During the session, CCTV footage was played showing officers allegedly forcing inmates to perform the “duck walk” – a degrading method of movement in a squatting position.
When asked if this was allowed, Khairul replied: “You can’t do that. Yes, that’s wrong.”
He also confirmed, after initially hesitating, that he was the officer seen kicking an inmate.
Suhakam’s inquiry is chaired by commission chairman Hishamudin Yunus, with commissioner Farah Nini Dusuki also on the panel. The fourth session is scheduled to be held from July 23 to July 25.