§ 14. Mr. Emrys Hughesasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies for what offence two police are serving sentences of imprisonment in Malaya; what were the sentences; and, in view of the strictures passed by the judge in pronouncing sentence, what action he proposes to take to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.
§ Mr. J. GriffithsI assume that the hon. Member refers to the conviction of two European members of the Malayan Police Force for the offence of "voluntarily causing hurt" to a detainee for the purpose of extracting a confession. The sentences were rigorous imprisonment for 2 years and 18 months respectively, and no further action is, I consider, necessary, to show that conduct of this kind will not be tolerated.
§ Mr. HughesIs the Minister aware that these ex-policemen were charged with torturing Chinese prisoners and that at the trial the judge said they were guilty of almost indescribable indecencies and studied cruelty? And will he see that these men are not put back into the Police Force?
§ Mr. GriffithsThese men have been sentenced, and I think that the trial and sentence are in themselves the answer.