Human rights lawyer and pro tem secretary-general of Parti Reformasi Insan Malaysia (Prim) P Uthayakumar (photo) was today arrested by the police for allegedly threatening police officers over their handling of an investigation of a death in custody.

Uthayakumar, a tough campaigner against police brutality, was arrested by a team led by Selangor CID chief SAC Abu Bakar Mustafa at the Sepang Magistrate's Court at 4.20pm and taken to the town's police station.

Chairperson of Prim's police watch and human rights committee RN Rajah told malaysiakini the arrest took place at the end of the three-month-long inquiry into the custodial death of 19-year-old S Tharmarajen (photo).

"Uthayakumar was met by a group of police officers at the entrance of the courtroom and was told that he was arrested," he said.

Uthayakumar was representing the victim's family in the inquiry. They claimed that Tharmarajen died last June 21 due to beatings he suffered while in police custody.

Government doctors diagnosed pneumonia or tuberculosis as the cause of death.

Vital role

Uthayakumar was instrumental in getting the inquiry underway and had submitted protest memorandums on police brutality to the government, judiciary as well to the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam).

The yet-to-be-registered political party born out of a Keadilan splinter group three years ago, is also key in highlighting the high incidence of fatal police shooting.

Prim's work in highlighting police brutality attained further recognition when it was awarded the Human Rights 2002 Award by human rights organisation Suaram last December.

In the course of the inquiry into Tharmarajen's death, which started last September, Uthayakumar had on various occasions crossed swords with the police on their handling of the case.

This led the police to lodge a report against Uthayakumar, resulting in his arrest today.

Rajah said he was told by the Sepang police that Uthayakumar will be released tomorrow if he cooperated in giving a statement.

Sepang police confirm the arrest when contacted. Meanwhile, the hearing for Tharmarajen's inquiry will resume on Feb 20.