PETALING JAYA, MALAYSIA: Singapore is reluctant to conduct lab tests on blood samples of A. Kugan, the suspected car thief who died in police custody.

This was revealed by the family lawyer, N. Surendran, who said pathologists at University Malaya Medical Centre had contacted their counterparts in the republic but they had not responded positively.

Surendran and Kugan's family members were informed of this development by pathologist Dr N. Prashant, who conducted the second post-mortem on Kugan's body.

The famliy has now decided to send the samples to a hospital in Australia.

"We cannot reveal the name of the hospital as we are afraid of interference by the authorities here," Surendran said.
He said police had already called up Dr Prashant for questioning and he was surprised that they were still interfering.

Police had earlier said that they wanted to record a statement from Dr Prashant. Police are also waiting for the second post-mortem results to complete their investigations into Kugan's death.

"We expect the results to be out in eight to 10 days," Surendran said, adding that it was puzzling that so far no one had been detained or charged in connection with Kugan's case.

"The Subang USJ police station is so small. I'm sure it is not difficult to detain the culprits. It has already been 16 days since Kugan died."

Meanwhile, Kapar member of parliament S. Manikava-sagam yesterday handed a compact disc, containing footage of the incident at the Serdang Hospital mortuary, to Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan at federal police headquarters.

"Police have alleged that the group of people had locked themselves in the mortuary and tampered with Kugan's body.

"I gave him (Musa) the CD on the mortuary incident," said Manikavasagam, adding that the family was upset that the police had summoned the pathologist for questioning.

"This clearly shows interference by the police."

Kugan, 22, died in police custody while he was being interrogated on Jan 20. The case is being investigated for murder.

It was reported that 11 policemen are being probed. They have been reassigned to desk duties at the Selangor police headquarters.

- New Strait Times