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Malaysian-Born Teen Dies In Detention Centre Allegedly Due To Delayed Medical Attention

The boy complained of chest pains, but was only brought to the hospital to seek medical treatment almost a week later.

Cover image via Mukmin Nantang (Facebook) & New Straits Times

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Editor's note: This story has been updated to include information relevant to the issue.

One of two teenage brothers who were detained by the Immigration Department in 2020 has died in custody

According to a Facebook user, 19-year-old Mohd Hassan Albat and 18-year-old Mohd Raman Albat were born in Malaysia. Their father is also a Malaysian citizen. A source who knows the brothers' family told SAYS they are from Pulau Bum-Bum in Semporna, Sabah.

Unfortunately, several years ago, their father lost their identification documents. The post does not detail how and what documents were lost exactly, but after their father's passing in 2017, the brothers were not able to attend school and had to work to support the family.

In 2020, the siblings were arrested by the police before being handed over to the Immigration Department. The circumstances that led to their arrest were not detailed in the post. 

Image for illustration purposes only.

Image via New Straits Times

Raman is said to have passed away on 3 August while in the custody of the Immigration Department

On 27 July, Raman complained of chest pains. However, it is alleged that he was only brought to the hospital on 2 August, where he passed away the next day.

When asked by this SAYS writer, the source said that Hassan and Raman's mother had not seen the pair since their arrest. She is now pleading for Hassan's release as she wants to see at least one of her sons come home.

SAYS has reached out to the Immigration Department for comment, but has yet to receive a response as of writing.

There have been a number of deaths in the custody of immigration detention centres, police lock-ups, and prisons in recent years:

However, in June, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin has been quoted downplaying custodial deaths:

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