Suspected underworld gang member dies in police custody (Updated)

SHAH ALAM: Police suspect the death of a detainee in Shah Alam central lock-up may have been due to a possible viral outbreak.
Selangor police chief Commissioner Datuk Mazlan Mansor said the 38-year-old man, who was being held under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma), was found unconscious at the Shah Alam central lockup at about 8.20pm on Tuesday.
The deceased, identified as S. Thanabalan, was arrested for suspected involvement in notorious underworld gangs.
"He was then rushed to Shah Alam Hospital for medical attention. However, he was later pronounced dead by the hospital's medical staff at about 9.05pm," he said today.
Mazlan said a post-mortem will be conducted to ascertain the cause of death.
He later added that doctors and officers from the Petaling Jaya District Health Office will also conduct checks on the lockup.
"All cells in the lock-up will be examined. Detainees and police personnel in charge at the lock-up will be screened as there might have been a viral disease," he said.
Former Kapar MP S. Manikavasagam was with the family at the Shah Alam Hospital Forensic Department to offer support.
"When Thanabalan was detained, he was not sick or had any disease," he told theSun.
Manikavasagam, who is also Parti Rakyat Malaysia member, urged Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun to conduct an inquiry into the incident.
Thanabalan's younger brother, S. Vijayanand, 36, who was at the Shah Alam Hospital Forensic Department, said his family has appointed a doctor who will observe the post-mortem.
Thanabalan was detained on March 29 after sending his son to school in Kapar, Klang.
He was among the detainees taken as part of the operations codenamed Ops Spider and Ops Api Reload under Ops Cantas Khas, which saw 63 gang members arrested including two key members who hold the honorific titles of Datuk Seri and Datuk.