17 sue Perak authorities over raid
Humayun KabirPublished: Jul 14, 2010 8:32 AM | Updated: Jul 14, 2010 8:34 AM
Seventeen people filed a civil suit this morning against the Perak Islamic Affairs Department and the state government at the Ipoh High Court.
Seventeen people filed a civil suit this morning against the Perak Islamic Affairs Department and the state government at the Ipoh High Court.
They are seeking damages - to be determined by the court - over alleged wrongful arrest and failure by the defendants to follow legal procedures during a raid on a house in Kampung Manjoi, Ipoh, about 10pm on Nov 16, 2008.
The religious department officials conducting the raid had been accompanied by the police, including Federal Reserve Unit personnel, and Ipoh City Council officers.
In suing for compensation, the 17 claimed they had been alienated by relatives and society after being arrested; that they had been embarrassed in the eyes of society; and that this had led to cases of divorce and abandonment in some families.
They were among 22 people detained while attending a farewell function for one of their number, Kharmain, an Indonesian national who was returning to his home country.
Their lawyer Rizalman Bahran (right) said the raid was not carried out in accordance with the state Islamic law and that no proper investigation had been conducted.
All 22 were held at the Ipoh district police headquarters for a day. The next day, 18 were released, while the rest - Kharmain, Abdul Razak Ishak, Mohd Nayan Kamaruddin and Mohd Ariff Abdul Rahman - were charged with preaching without authorisation.
The four were then detained at the Tapah prison for a day, but released on bail the next day. The Syariah Court later threw out the case for lack of evidence, said Rizalman.
They are seeking damages - to be determined by the court - over alleged wrongful arrest and failure by the defendants to follow legal procedures during a raid on a house in Kampung Manjoi, Ipoh, about 10pm on Nov 16, 2008.The religious department officials conducting the raid had been accompanied by the police, including Federal Reserve Unit personnel, and Ipoh City Council officers.
In suing for compensation, the 17 claimed they had been alienated by relatives and society after being arrested; that they had been embarrassed in the eyes of society; and that this had led to cases of divorce and abandonment in some families.
They were among 22 people detained while attending a farewell function for one of their number, Kharmain, an Indonesian national who was returning to his home country.
Their lawyer Rizalman Bahran (right) said the raid was not carried out in accordance with the state Islamic law and that no proper investigation had been conducted.All 22 were held at the Ipoh district police headquarters for a day. The next day, 18 were released, while the rest - Kharmain, Abdul Razak Ishak, Mohd Nayan Kamaruddin and Mohd Ariff Abdul Rahman - were charged with preaching without authorisation.
The four were then detained at the Tapah prison for a day, but released on bail the next day. The Syariah Court later threw out the case for lack of evidence, said Rizalman.
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