The habeas corpus application for a suspect allegedly linked to militant Muslim groups will seek for his release by focusing on procedural errors made by the arresting police officer, said his lawyer today.

Counsel S Selvam told malaysiakini at the Shah Alam High Court that this would be the main area of his focus to secure the release of his client Mohd Iqbal Abdul Rahman, who is being detained under the Internal Security Act.

At the hearing before Justice Zaleha Zahari today, Selvam applied for his arguments concerning Section 73(1) and Section 8 of the ISA to be consolidated. This was allowed by the court and hearing then set for Sept 20.

Habeas Corpus is writ of law that forces detaining authorities to release detainees if it can be proven that the detention order was given in bad faith mala fide .

Iqbal was arrested under Section 73(1) of the ISA on June 30 alleged links with militant Muslim groups responsible for a bank robbery in Petaling Jaya and the murder of Lunas state assemblyman Joe Fernandez.

At a press conference on June 7, police chief Norian Mai told reporters that militant Muslim groups were responsible for a series of robberies done to finance their efforts to create a purist Islamic society through a holy war ( jihad ).

Two-year detention

Selvam said today he would have to consolidate legal challenges to Iqbal's detention as the home minister had last night served a two-year detention order under the ISA on Iqbal

"He was served the order at 11.45pm last night, just one night before his trial at the Shah Alam High Court today," Selvam said.

Section 73(1) of the ISA allows a suspect to be detained for up to 60 days by the police while Section 8 of the act allows the home minister to detain him for up to two years after the initial 60-day period has expired.

Iqbal, a religious teacher, was arrested by police when he attended a political rally in Shah Alam on June 30. According to the arresting officer's affidavit, Iqbal was arrested for posing 'a threat to national security'.