Mustakhim Abdul Rahim, 39, said the inmates, who were being transferred from Hall B to Block E, appeared calm on camera but were actually hurling insults, death threats, and threats of sexual violence directed at prison staff and their families.

“When you watch the footage, they looked calm. But they were verbally attacking us the entire time,” Mustakhim said. “Even the most patient person would struggle to stay calm in that situation.”

He said the inmates’ refusal to cooperate and their repeated use of threatening language created a tense and hostile environment, though no physical attacks occurred.

Mustakhim said the majority of the inmates opposed the move to Block E, mainly because toilets were not available in the cells and they were required to use buckets instead.

“They stood together and said, ‘We are united against moving to Block E,’” he said.

He maintained that force was only used to align the inmates for the transfer, and that he did not witness any violence by officers while in Hall B.

There were claims that the prison wardens, numbering about 60, had assaulted more than 100 prisoners earlier this year.

Suhakam is investigating the alleged violation of human rights during the incident, which is said to have resulted in the death of one inmate and injury to several others.

In previous sessions, one officer attributed the incident to high stress levels among prison staff, while another officer admitted to filing a false police report which wrongly claimed that more than 100 inmates were the aggressors.

Suhakam chairman Hishamudin Yunus and commissioner Farah Nini Dusuki are on the panel holding the inquiry.

The inquiry will continue tomorrow.