(Johor Bahru, 8th) A 37-year-old man of Chinese descent was sentenced to 7 days in prison for drunk driving. However, on the day of his release, the family received a notice from the funeral home informing them of the man’s death. During the identification of the body, the family discovered multiple bruises, leaving behind a widow, a mother, and two young daughters.
The deceased, 37-year-old Jin Shijie, co-owned a coffee shop in Queen’s Garden, Johor Bahru, with someone else. He had two daughters, aged 4 and 6, with his 33-year-old wife, while also taking care of his mother who is over 60.
He was arrested on September 23 last year, his birthday, after being caught for drunk driving. On June 22 this year, he was sentenced to 7 days in prison and fined RM 15,000 under Section 45A(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for drunk driving. Subsequently, he served his sentence at the Kluang Prison. Unexpectedly, when the family attempted to pick him up on June 28, they were informed that he had died in prison.
The deceased’s elder brother, Jin Shihao (39 years old), and cousin Michelle Jin (32 years old), accompanied by DAP Johor State Committee and Queen’s Garden Branch Publicity Secretary Goh Cheng Hoe, held a press conference today. They hope to understand the circumstances of the man’s death in prison. Accompanying them were Queen’s Garden Branch Secretary Lee Chai Seng and Kangkar Pulai Branch Chairman Teo Wai Hong.
Jin Shihao revealed that the family attempted to apply for a prison visit on June 25, during his brother’s incarceration. However, the prison rejected the application, citing that the brother would be released in two days on June 28. It was only on the day his sentence ended that the family learned about his death.
He mentioned that on the day his sister-in-law and cousin prepared to pick up his brother, they were shocked to receive the news of his death. Upon receiving the notification from the funeral home, they immediately went to the Kluang Central Hospital to claim the body.
Jin Shijie, a 37-year-old man of Chinese descent, was sentenced to 7 days in prison for drunk driving on his birthday but could not survive to be released, leaving behind a widow, mother, and two young daughters.
Michelle Jin further revealed that during the body identification, they found bruises on various parts of her cousin’s body, including the right forearm, left wrist, left elbow, chest, right abdomen, and even the testicles.
She expressed dissatisfaction with the authorities for not informing the family immediately after her cousin’s death. Before his imprisonment, her cousin had no health issues or injuries. His death in prison has had a significant impact on the family.
When asked about the prison’s response, she stated that the prison only mentioned that her cousin missed his family, broke down on the 5th day of incarceration, had no appetite, and suffered from low blood sugar.
The family is dissatisfied and finds it hard to accept the events surrounding the man’s death. They have reported the case to the police and have also appealed to the Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah, the Malaysian Human Rights Commission, and the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC), hoping to understand the truth of the incident.
In response, Goh Cheng Hoe stated that the autopsy report of the deceased has not been released yet. However, he hopes that the Inspector-General of Police will pay attention to the matter and investigate the cause of the man’s death with an open mind. Law enforcement agencies should ensure the safety of detainees, thereby upholding the reputation of law enforcement units.
He pointed out that according to the procedure, the prison should inform the coroner and the deceased’s family immediately upon the death of the prisoner. Under the supervision of the coroner, the entire autopsy procedure should be completed to ensure that the process is independent, fair, and transparent.
“We have informed the DAP National Legal Bureau Director and Member of Parliament for Bukit Nanas, Kuala Lumpur, Lim Lip Eng, about this case, and he has promised that DAP will provide legal assistance to the deceased’s family.”
