Constable charged with causing grevious hurt to Kugan
(Bernama) – Constable Navindran Vivekanandan was charged in the Sessions Court here today with two counts of causing grievous hurt to A Kugan, who was found dead in a police lockup in January.
Navindran, 28, pleaded not guilty to causing grievous hurt to Kugan to extort a confession, or any information which may lead to the detection of an offence or misconduct, at the interrogation room of the D9 office of the Taipan police station, USJ, Subang Jaya, at 7am and 4pm on Jan 16.
He also pleaded not guilty to two alternative charges of causing hurt to Kugan at the same place and time.
The main charges carry a maximum 10 years’ jail and the alternative charges, seven years’ jail, on conviction. Both also carry liability of a fine.
Deputy public prosecutor Idham Abd Ghani asked the court to set bail at RM10,000 with one surety for all the charges, saying that these were serious charges and the case had received wide media coverage.
Defence counsel Datuk Salehuddin Saidin, however, said that media coverage was not a factor for consideration and asked that bail be set at RM1,000 as
Navindran had cooperated with the police and also had a wife and children to look after.
Judge Aslam Zainuddin allowed bail of RM10,000 with one surety and fixed Nov 5 for mention.
Outside the court, lawyer Gobind Singh Deo, who is holding a watching brief for Kugan’s family, questioned why Navindran was not charged with murder or causing death.
Kugan’s mother, N Indra, said she was unhappy that only one policeman was charged, claiming that 11 others were involved.
Salehudin told reporters that so far there was no indication from the Attorney-General’s chambers that others would be charged in connection with the
case.
Kugan was arrested by police on Jan 15 on suspicion of stealing a car and were detained at the Taipan police station in Subang Jaya for five days before his death, which had caused anger among the Indian community, which questioned the manner in which the police interrogated him.
