Secretary for Security Cheong Kuoc Va reaffirmed the authority's strict demands on discipline of police officers, saying any abuse of authority would not be tolerated.

In response to the incident of a suspect died during custody today (17 May), Secretary Cheong said that the Public Prosecution Office is now investigating the case, adding that he had ordered an internal investigation.

He stressed that any violation of the regulations would be punished accordingly.

In response to legislator's request for an ad hoc committee to investigate the case, Secretary Cheong said that investigation by an ad hoc committee might contradict the principal of judicial confidentiality.

Concerning the plan to set up a monitoring body over the police forces, the secretary said that the plan was now under study, adding that the study would be started as soon as possible, in order to go into the legislation process by 2004.