“It doesn’t have recording function” Miri Police Claim CCTV Footage Unavailable For Lockup Rape Case

Two police personnel at the Miri central police station lock up were suspended after a 16-year-old girl was allegedly raped by another detainee, while they were on duty on 9 January. However, police claim that CCTV footage during the incident was unavailable.

According to Harian Metro, the teenager was detained by the police on 8 January at the seafood restaurant she works at in Miri after being suspected to be involved in an illegal gambling case. She was then put into lock-up for one night to assist in investigations.

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She claimed that she was the only woman in the lock-up and was placed in a cell separated from 12 male detainees. She also claimed that the cell with 12 men was unlocked.

The girl alleged that between 4am and 5am, one of the detainees, who apparently had the key to the women’s lock-up, unlocked her cell door and took her to the toilet to rape her.

Sarawak police commissioner Datuk Aidil Ismail said that the male detainee has been charged under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code for rape and the case is set for re-mention at a court in Miri on 9 February.

The toilet the girl was allegedly raped in

He initially told Berita Harian that he was unable to reveal any further information until the investigation was fully carried out, however, it was later found that the camera footage was unavailable.

Aidi said he had instructed his deputy Datuk Fisol Salleh to coordinate the internal investigation and the results would be known this week, reported Bernama.

“There is a CCTV camera installed in the lockup, but it does not have recording function and it can only be monitored by personnel on duty. I have also instructed the investigation team to look into it,” he said.

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He added that the Integrity and Standard Compliance Department of the Sarawak police contingent headquarters are working together with the Miri district police to investigate this case further.

“Based on the statements from the witnesses, we found that the incident (rape) did occur in the lockup,” he said.

Previously, he said that a detailed investigation would be conducted into the allegation whether there are elements of negligence in the case.

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