By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
THE widow of a man who died after being “treated like a dog“ while in police custody says she will never forgive the Dandenong officers involved.
The coronial findings into Ling Gong Tang’s death in 2010, which were handed down last week, were critical of how officers dealt with his arrest.
Mr Tang, who was suffering from advanced chronic liver disease, was found to have suffered hypothermia after being led from Dandenong police cells and left to lie in the rain on the cold night of 12 May 2010.
The Coroner said Mr Tang was drunk, soiled, complaining of abdominal pain, bleeding and crawling in the police cells before being released.
Without a fixed address, Mr Tang was left to lie drenched for 40 minutes after an ambulance was called three times.
He died the next morning in Dandenong Hospital.
Of the five police officers, one has been sacked over the incident, another resigned and three were fined and subject to further training.
In a family statement, Hai Truong – Tang’s wife – thanked interpreter and witness Yu Lipski for speaking out on her husband’s suffering.
“I doubt that these horrible events would have surfaced without her courage.”
Ms Truong said the family had suffered not only because of Mr Tang’s death but the “inhumane way” he was treated.
“It was devastating to have the world see my husband crawl out of a cell without a hand to help. To be treated like a dog.
“My daughter and I miss him terribly and I shall never forgive those police officers for the way my husband was treated.”
In his findings, deputy state coroner Iain West stated that CCTV footage of Mr Tang crawling out of his cell without assistance was “confounding and deeply distressing to witness”.
It took eight minutes for officers to escort Mr Tang out of the station. CCTV footage showed Tang “struggling to stand and walk”.
“He is eventually pushed out into the cold night, in bare feet and in a shocking state, with blood escaping from his mouth,” Mr West stated.
Mr West said it was unclear what extent hypothermia played in Mr Tang’s death or whether earlier medical attention could have saved him.
He therefore found the death was “not a death in custody within the meaning of the Act”.
“Despite there being no specific police guidelines regarding the management of detainees who were soiled, I am of the view that more competent, diligent and compassionate police officers would have made arrangements to address Mr Tang’s soiled condition and preserve his welfare, dignity and hygiene.”
After the findings, Acting Deputy Commissioner Jack Blayney said: “On any test, in terms of our duty of care for people in our custody, it fails.”
“On the night in question, the members failed dismally in terms of their duty to Mr Tang.
“Mr Tang was not afforded the dignity on that night that Victoria Police expects from all of its staff.”
He said the possibility of criminal charges was considered but “our advice was in this case they don’t apply”.
Victoria Police has since reviewed how it handles people in police care.
Among the changes were clear guidelines on maintaining prisoners’ dignity, comfort and hygiene, and to check and rouse drunken detainees every 30 minutes.
