DAP calls for immediate public release of "independent police investigation" report into Anwar’s "black eye" while the Attorney-General decides what form of action he proposes to take

The announcement today that the Attorney-General has appointed a consultant in forensic medicine to assist him in assessing medical reports submitted to his Chambers in relation to the alleged assault of Anwar while in police custody raises many questions:
 

• Why wasn’t the forensic specialist consultant appointed right from the very beginning of the "independent police investigations" into Anwar’s "black-eye" while in police custody?
• Why was the forensic specialist expert appointed only some two weeks after the "independent police investigation team", which included findings by two senior consultant specialists from the Kuala Lumpur Hospital, had submitted its report to the Attorney-General’s Chambers on November 19?
• Why is a simple case involving the alleged assault of Anwar Ibrahim on the first night of his detention by the police on Sept. 20 taking such an inordinately long time of two-and-half months, with no end in sight?
• How independent is the "independent police investigation team"?
• Why has the report of the "independent police investigation team" into Anwar’s black-eye been withheld from the public when it should be made public immediately regardless of the action the Attorney-General may decide to take, or is this part of the government’s evasion of the principles of accountability and transparency, as evidenced by its refusal earlier to commission an independent investigation into Anwar’s "black-eye" and bruises when in police custody?

(5/12/98)