The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) has concluded that excessive violence, delayed medical treatment and negligence by prison personnel contributed to the death of inmate Gan Chin Eng during an incident at Taiping Prison last year.
The findings were announced on Monday following SUHAKAM’s public inquiry into alleged human rights violations linked to the January 17, 2025 incident at the prison.
SUHAKAM chairman Mohd Hishamuddin Yunus said the inquiry panel ruled that Chin Eng’s death constituted a serious violation of human rights.
According to the panel, multiple factors contributed directly to the 61-year-old inmate’s death, including physical abuse, delayed emergency treatment, negligence in providing medical care and inadequate emergency medical facilities.
“The Public Inquiry Panel found various facts indicating excessive force was used against Chin Eng by prison personnel,” Mohd Hishamuddin said while delivering the inquiry’s final findings.
The panel also concluded that the injuries suffered by Chin Eng were consistent with violent actions allegedly carried out by prison officers during the incident.
Investigators further found that significant delays occurred at several stages after the incident, including while Chin Eng was transferred to Block E, a housing unit within the prison, despite him already appearing weak and visibly in pain.
According to the findings, Chin Eng’s condition became increasingly critical while he was inside the block, but officers from the prison’s Security and Prevention Unit allegedly failed to take immediate action to send him for medical treatment.
The inquiry also highlighted delays at the prison’s main gate, where Chin Eng reportedly remained for at least 35 minutes or longer before finally being transported to Taiping Hospital.
This was despite the hospital being located only around two kilometres away, with an estimated travel time of five to 10 minutes.
The panel described the delayed response and careless handling by prison officers and medical staff as completely unacceptable.
SUHAKAM further found that Chin Eng was not given emergency first aid before being sent to hospital even though he was clearly weak and suffering.
The inquiry also determined that medical personnel left him without proper monitoring while his condition deteriorated further.
According to the panel, other inmates reportedly attempted to assist Chin Eng before he was eventually transported to hospital.
As a result, SUHAKAM concluded that both medical officers and assistant medical officers at the prison were negligent in carrying out their duties.
The panel ultimately ruled that acts of neglect and medical negligence by prison officers and healthcare staff directly contributed to Chin Eng’s death.
The case drew nationwide attention after the Malaysian Prison Department confirmed on January 27, 2025 that a “provocation incident” had occurred at Taiping Prison earlier that month, resulting in one inmate’s death.
The incident later sparked public outrage following allegations that more than 100 inmates were subjected to violence, with over 30 police reports lodged by prisoners’ family members.
Former acting Perak police chief Zulkafli Sariaat previously stated that police had recorded statements from 82 individuals, including two prison officers, to assist investigations.
On December 19, 2025, prison officer Ryndee O’nel Victor, 25, was charged at the Taiping Magistrate’s Court under Section 304(b) of the Penal Code for allegedly causing Chin Eng’s death.
However, the accused pleaded not guilty and requested a full trial before being granted bail of RM5,000 with two sureties.
SUHAKAM later launched its own public inquiry after receiving allegations of human rights violations involving the death of Chin Eng and injuries suffered by several other inmates.
SUHAKAM commissioner Farah Nini Dusuki previously revealed that investigators entered Taiping Prison between February 25 and 27, 2025 before later expanding the investigation to include the hospital and the related district police headquarters.
