Up in arms over the police's high-handed tactics
Hafiz YatimPublished: May 1, 2011 1:43 PM | Updated: May 1, 2011 7:51 PM
The family of teenager Muhamad Arif Abu Semah who has been detained under the Emergency Ordinance since March 8, are up in arms over the high-handed tactics employed by the police yesterday in allowing them to meet him for only three minutes.
The family of detained teenager Muhamad Arif Abu Semah says the police treated them roughly and gave only three minutes to see him.
The family of teenager Muhamad Arif Abu Semah who has been detained under the Emergency Ordinance since March 8, are up in arms over the high-handed tactics employed by the police yesterday in allowing them to meet him for only three minutes.
Not only that, a plainclothes policeman acted roughly in pulling out Arif's 17-year-old friend, Fuqran, from the room when he asked the detainee how his friend was, which police station was he brought to and when he would appear in court.
Arif's father Abu Semah Ab Rahim, in relating the 11am incident at the Rawang police station where his 19-year-old son was detained, asked the policeman why was it necessary to be so rough.
"The officer did not answer but instead pulled us out after only meeting Arif for three minutes. This is truly deplorable as usually I could visit for half an hour. What is wrong with my son's friend asking those questions?"
"Do we not have the right to know where was he taken to, and when he will be brought to court?" he said in tears when contacted by Malaysiakini.
Abu Semah went there with lawyer Edward Saw yesterday. The teenager also complained of being assaulted by the police using a piece of wood, a wire and an iron rod to hit him on his feet.
Arif also sought medical treatment but this was denied by the authorities.
The family's plight was highlighted by Suaram and the NGO Lawyers for Liberty in a press conference on Thursday over teenagers and youth detained under the Emergency Ordinance (Public Order and the Prevention of Crime) 1969.
Lawyer Fadiah Nadwa Fikri (right), for Lawyers of Liberty, when contacted deplored the high-handed tactics employed by the police and the family and teenager friend are thinking of lodging a police report over the incident in Kuala Lumpur.
"They should not use force. What was the need for force to be used and why only such a short time to meet Arif?" she asked, adding that Saw was not given any access to Arif.
The NGO and Suaram also issued a press statement over the incident which has been described by Fadiah and the Lawyers of Liberty as a new low for the police.
Renewed calls for IPCMC
In the statement, they called for Arif's immediate release and for the police to issue a public apology to him and his family.
They also asked that action be taken against the police officers who had assaulted Arif and were rough to Fuqran.
Suaram and Lawyers for Liberty also called for the establishment of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC), to function as an independent, external oversight body to investigate complaints about police personnel and to make the police accountable for their conduct.
They also called for the abolishment of such tactics as arresting and re-arresting under preventive detention laws like the EO and the draconian Internal Security Act. The two NGOs also called for the authorities to respect human rights and to provide lawyers access to detainees at all times.
"The authorities should also support human rights education and training programmes, with a view to changing the attitudes and methods of law enforcement personnel," the statement added.
Abu Semah said he was saddened by the episode as not only was the family given access only once a week, but that had been cut short to only three minutes.
"I want the matter to be made public so that such high-handed techniques will not continue. Why the need to use rough tactic and why deny us access?" he said.
The father of three said he had just entered the room and there was another family there seeing their son when all the commotion happened.
"Probably the police are upset over yesterday's press conference," he said, adding that he was merely seeking justice for his son as if there is a case against him he should be charged in court, but if not, then he should be released.
Not only that, a plainclothes policeman acted roughly in pulling out Arif's 17-year-old friend, Fuqran, from the room when he asked the detainee how his friend was, which police station was he brought to and when he would appear in court.
Arif's father Abu Semah Ab Rahim, in relating the 11am incident at the Rawang police station where his 19-year-old son was detained, asked the policeman why was it necessary to be so rough.
"The officer did not answer but instead pulled us out after only meeting Arif for three minutes. This is truly deplorable as usually I could visit for half an hour. What is wrong with my son's friend asking those questions?"
"Do we not have the right to know where was he taken to, and when he will be brought to court?" he said in tears when contacted by Malaysiakini.
Abu Semah went there with lawyer Edward Saw yesterday. The teenager also complained of being assaulted by the police using a piece of wood, a wire and an iron rod to hit him on his feet.
Arif also sought medical treatment but this was denied by the authorities.
The family's plight was highlighted by Suaram and the NGO Lawyers for Liberty in a press conference on Thursday over teenagers and youth detained under the Emergency Ordinance (Public Order and the Prevention of Crime) 1969.
Lawyer Fadiah Nadwa Fikri (right), for Lawyers of Liberty, when contacted deplored the high-handed tactics employed by the police and the family and teenager friend are thinking of lodging a police report over the incident in Kuala Lumpur.
"They should not use force. What was the need for force to be used and why only such a short time to meet Arif?" she asked, adding that Saw was not given any access to Arif.
The NGO and Suaram also issued a press statement over the incident which has been described by Fadiah and the Lawyers of Liberty as a new low for the police.
Renewed calls for IPCMC
In the statement, they called for Arif's immediate release and for the police to issue a public apology to him and his family.
They also asked that action be taken against the police officers who had assaulted Arif and were rough to Fuqran.
Suaram and Lawyers for Liberty also called for the establishment of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC), to function as an independent, external oversight body to investigate complaints about police personnel and to make the police accountable for their conduct.
They also called for the abolishment of such tactics as arresting and re-arresting under preventive detention laws like the EO and the draconian Internal Security Act. The two NGOs also called for the authorities to respect human rights and to provide lawyers access to detainees at all times.
"The authorities should also support human rights education and training programmes, with a view to changing the attitudes and methods of law enforcement personnel," the statement added.
Abu Semah said he was saddened by the episode as not only was the family given access only once a week, but that had been cut short to only three minutes.
"I want the matter to be made public so that such high-handed techniques will not continue. Why the need to use rough tactic and why deny us access?" he said.
The father of three said he had just entered the room and there was another family there seeing their son when all the commotion happened.
"Probably the police are upset over yesterday's press conference," he said, adding that he was merely seeking justice for his son as if there is a case against him he should be charged in court, but if not, then he should be released.
View Comments0