Death in Custody

Death in
Custody

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中文

Analysis
Behind the numbers
Facts
Charts & infographics
Guide
Arrested? What to do
Interactive
Death in Custody

中文

Analysis
Infographic
Know your rights
Interactive

DEATH IN CUSTODY

Can you protect your friend and yourself in police custody?

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CHOOSE A STORY:

"BANG!" You wake up, startled. You hear yelling from the room next door. What's going on?

Four armed masked men are in the room. Your housemate crouches on the floor, bleeding. One of the men handcuffs him, while another steps on his back.

The men tell you to stay quiet. "We are the police," they say. "Your housemate is being arrested."

Demand explanation & ask for identification?

The men drag your housemate to a car outside and drive off.

Return to your housemate's room?

DID YOU KNOW?

How to identify plainclothes police

If a plainclothes police officer stops you, you may request identification, but be polite.

One man shows you his police authority card and takes your details down. The others drag your housemate to a car outside and drive off.

Return to your housemate's room?

DID YOU KNOW?

How to identify plainclothes police

If a plainclothes police officer stops you, you may request identification, but be polite.

One of the cops is back. "I need to take away your housemate's motorbike," he says. "Also, can I borrow an old cloth?"

Give the cop a cloth?

You notice a bloodstained carpet in your housemate's room. Suddenly, one of the cops calls. "Make sure there's no blood left in the room," he says.

Keep the carpet?

The cop enters your housemate's room. He uses your cloth to clean up traces of blood, then leaves. But wait - he forgot a bloodstained carpet...

Keep the carpet?

The cop enters your housemate's room. He somehow finds a cloth and cleans up traces of blood, then leaves. But wait - he forgot a bloodstained carpet...

Keep the carpet?

A few hours later, the cops call. "Your housemate has died," they say.

DID YOU KNOW?

What should you do if you witness police misconduct

Avoid confronting the police. If an offence has been committed, you may lodge a police report later.

A few hours later, you receive a call from the cops. "Your housemate has died," they say.

DID YOU KNOW?

What should you do if you witness police misconduct

Avoid confronting the police. If an offence has been committed, you may lodge a police report later.

Well done. The bloodstained carpet you kept was later produced in court as evidence for your housemate's death in custody. You also learnt that you can ask police for ID, and to lodge a report if you witness police misconduct. This interactive feature was based on the real-life case of Azlan Syed Mohamed Nur, who died on Nov 3, 2014.
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You could have done better. By throwing away the bloodstained carpet, you have helped cover up a death in custody. You also learnt that you can ask police for ID, and to lodge a report if you witness police misconduct. This interactive feature was based on the real-life case of Azlan Syed Mohamed Nur, who died on Nov 3, 2014.
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You're travelling in a car with a friend. Suddenly, the cops stop your car.

"We suspect this is a stolen vehicle," a cop says. He orders both of you to come to the police station.

Do you ask if you are under arrest?

"Yes, you are under arrest," the cop replies. You are a theft suspect, he adds.

Request a phone call?

DID YOU KNOW?

Police are obliged to inform you of your offence when arresting you.

The cops bring you and your friend to the police station.

DID YOU KNOW?

Police are obliged to inform you of your offence when arresting you.

You inform your family of your arrest. The cops then bring you and your friend to the police station.

DID YOU KNOW?

When arrested, you may request a phone call to inform your family or lawyer.

This right may be denied if it causes delay and will lead to another crime being committed.

The cops bring you and your friend to the police station.

DID YOU KNOW?

When arrested, you may request a phone call to inform your family or lawyer.

This right may be denied if it causes delay and will lead to another crime being committed.

At the police station, you see your friend being slapped and punched in the chest by interrogators.

Do you try to protect your friend?

You are slapped and punched too. Police then send both of you to district police headquarters.

You decide it's better to co-operate with the probe. Later, you and your friend are sent to district police headquarters.

One day later, you and your friend appear before a magistrate for remand. Your friend vomits blood in court. The magistrate refuses to issue a remand for your friend. "Take him to the hospital now," she says.

It's your turn to face the magistrate. You wonder if you should tell her about the beatings that took place earlier.

Do you tell magistrate about the beatings?

DID YOU KNOW?

Normally, police may only detain you for up to 24 hours.

They must then seek remand from a magistrate for an extension.

You receive a short one-day remand. The magistrate orders police to give you medical attention too. You are then brought back to the police station. To your surprise, your friend who was denied remand is there too.

DID YOU KNOW?

If you are mistreated in police custody, you may lodge a complaint with the magistrate during remand hearing.

You are remanded for two days. You are then brought back to the police station. To your surprise, your friend who was denied remand is there too.

DID YOU KNOW?

If you are mistreated in police custody, you may lodge a complaint with the magistrate during remand hearing.

"Aren't you supposed to be in hospital?" you ask your friend. Your friend is too weak to answer.

Do you insist to police that he should be taken to hospital?

The cops ignore you. They say your friend is being re-arrested for another crime. One day later, your friend dies.

You are transferred to another police lockup. One day later, your friend dies.

Know your rights. You may not have been able to save your friend, but you learnt about your rights in police custody. These include being informed of your offence upon arrest; requesting a phone call; and being detained for 24 hours maximum. This interactive feature was based on the true story of S Balamurugan, who died on Feb 8, 2017.
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Know your rights. You may not have been able to save your friend, but you learnt about your rights in police custody. These include being informed of your offence upon arrest; requesting a phone call; and being detained for 24 hours maximum. This interactive feature was based on the true story of S Balamurugan, who died on Feb 8, 2017.
Read Bala's story Play again

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DID YOU KNOW?

There have been instances when a detainee is rearrested for a different reason after police fail to secure remand.

This resets the 24-hour rule, allowing a new remand to be sought. Human rights lawyers describe this "chain remand" as a procedural abuse.