Suhakam findings point to breakdown in prison custodial practices, says criminologist

KUALA LUMPUR: The Suhakam findings on the Taiping Prison transfer incident point not only to operational shortcomings but to a serious breakdown in the protection of human dignity and lawful custodial practices, says criminologist Datuk Dr P. Sundramoorthy.

He said the findings indicated a failure to uphold legal and moral obligations owed to detainees under the Federal Constitution, prison regulations and international human rights standards.

“Excessive force, if proven, represents an abuse of state authority and undermines public confidence in correctional institutions. Prisons are not beyond public accountability, and state actors remain subject to the rule of law at all times,” he told the New Straits Times.

He added that the alleged involvement of multiple prison personnel, rather than isolated individuals, was particularly concerning as it may point to deeper institutional and cultural issues within the custodial system.

Sundramoorthy, who is also an Asian Criminological Society board member, said such patterns could reflect a normalisation of excessive force, where aggression or dehumanisation of inmates becomes embedded in institutional culture.

“In criminological and correctional studies, this is often linked to weak ethical supervision, inadequate training, occupational stress and an entrenched subculture where misconduct is tolerated or protected,” he said.

He said that leadership, command responsibility and supervision were central to preventing custodial violence, given the strict hierarchy within correctional institutions.

“Serious abuses require scrutiny not only of frontline officers but also supervisory failures. Weak leadership during high-risk operations such as prisoner transfers increases the likelihood of excessive force and uncontrolled behaviour,” he added.

On allegations of falsified records and deleted evidence, Sundramoorthy said this was among the most serious aspects of the inquiry as it directly affects the integrity of justice and accountability processes.

“Any manipulation or destruction of records could indicate attempts to obstruct investigations and conceal misconduct, which may amount to criminal offences under Malaysian law,” he said.

He cautioned, however, against drawing sweeping conclusions, saying it would be premature to assume such practices were widespread without broader evidence.

Sundramoorthy said the issues identified by Suhakam reflected vulnerabilities commonly seen in custodial systems globally, including excessive force, weak supervision and accountability gaps.

“The inquiry should be viewed as an opportunity for institutional reflection and reform. Strengthening independent oversight, human rights training, complaint mechanisms and command accountability is essential,” he said.

He added that the authorities’ response would determine whether the incident remains an isolated controversy or becomes a catalyst for meaningful reform in the prison system.

© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd

المصدر: New Straits Times