[Avoireeideree]

KUALA LUMPUR - An Iranian died in the Ampang police lock-up after several pellets containing drugs in his stomach burst. A post-mortem revealed the presence of 21 pellets containing syabu, or ice, in his stomach.

Sources said the Iranian, in his 30s, had been arrested under peculiar circumstances on Tuesday. The suspect got himself stuck in the air-conditioning vent of a hypermarket in Pandan Indah.

"A worker noticed the trapped Iranian and alerted the authorities. Fire and Rescue Department personnel rescued the Iranian before handing him over to the police."

However, on Tuesday night, the Iranian was having his meal in the cell when he suddenly collapsed. An ambulance was immediately summoned and the suspect was rushed to the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

It is believed that the drugs have an estimated street value of RM34,000 although it has yet to be ascertained when the suspect arrived here and why he was attempting to break into the hypermarket.