The illegal assembly trial for seven university students - also known as the ISA 7 - resumed today with a prosecution witness telling the Kuala Lumpur Magistrate's Court that he had burnt his notes in relation to the arrest of one of the accused.

The prosecution's sixth witness M Paramasivam - a police officer with the Dang Wangi police station told Magistrate Lim Kui Lee that he had burnt his notebook because it was "not very important".

Defence counsel Amer Hamzah Arshad had questioned Paramasivam's testimony since he did not substantiate his statement by referring to the notes of his arrest, as is the usual practice.

During cross-examination, the policeman said the notebook contained details of the arrest he effected against Zulkifli Idris during an operation codenamed 'Ops Padam' on June 8, 2001. However, he added that he burnt the book six months later.

At the onset of the trial this morning, Paramasivam told the court about the details of the arrest such as the distance between him and the accused as well as the circumstances under which the arrest was made.

Questioned by Amer as to why he had destroyed his notebook, the policeman replied that he did it in accordance with the Police Act but could not remember the exact clause.

The counsel then asked if he could remember what happened over the next few days following the June 8 operation. Paramsivam replied that he could not but added that he was confident of his testimony pertaining to the details of the arrest.

'Long time ago'

To a question from another counsel Latheefa Koya on whether it was usual practice to destroy his notebook before the trial is concluded, he said the arrest was made a "long time ago" and that was why he had do so.

"Is the notebook important for you?" Latheefa asked.

"Not really.... But I can remember those important tasks," he replied.

The hearing will continue on March 17-18. The prosecution has two more witnesses to call.

The seven were detained for allegedly participating in an anti-Internal Security Act (ISA) demonstration outside the National Mosque in Kuala Lumpur.

Following their arrests, the students were suspended by their respective universities. They were later charged under Section 27 of the Police Act on July 19, 2001 and all of them pleaded not guilty.

The hearing was adjourned eights times before it was first heard last July.

If convicted, the students could face a maximum punishment of one year imprisonment, an RM10,000 fine or both.

In addition to Amer and Latheefa, the students are also represented by Edmund Bon,Wan Razali Wan Kadir and Zulkepli Omar, while Ahmad Bache is prosecuting.