Two Sosma detainees claim Sg Buloh prison officers beat them
The 26-year-olds have since filed an originating summons to compel the Prisons director-general and the home minister to reveal the names of the alleged aggressors in the purported incidents on Feb 11 and 13.
The bid filed at the Kuala Lumpur High Court...
Summary
Two men detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) claimed they were beaten by Sungai Buloh Prison officers over the duo’s hunger strike.
The 26-year-olds seek a court order to compel the Prisons director-general and the home minister to reveal the names of the alleged aggressors.
The duo seek the officers’ identities as they want to prepare a main lawsuit to demand compensation over the alleged physical assault last month.
Two men detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) claimed Sungai Buloh Prison officers beat them up over the duo’s hunger strike last month.
The 26-year-olds have since filed an originating summons to compel the Prisons director-general and the home minister to reveal the names of the alleged aggressors in the purported incidents on Feb 11 and 13.
The bid filed at the Kuala Lumpur High Court three days ago is a prelude to a main lawsuit over the physical assault.
The two men were among the 32 Sosma detainees whose family members held a hunger strike in front of Sungai Buloh Prisons Complex back on Feb 8.
According to an affidavit by the second plaintiff, who is one of the two men, he claimed he and the first plaintiff were among several Sosma detainees who were victims of the assault on the night of Thaipusam on Feb 11.
He claimed he and the other detainees were beaten and stomped upon by prison officers to the point that some detainees passed out from the grievous pain, bleeding, and injuries.
“The attack originated from my action, that of the first plaintiff, as well as several other detainees who initiated a hunger strike as a protest over the terrible treatment, inhumane prison conditions, as well as violations of our fundamental rights.
“At or around Feb 8 to 9, 2025, my family as well as that of other Sosma detainees initiated a hunger strike in front of Sungai Buloh Prison Complex as a protest over detention without trial and unfair treatment.
“In support of the protest, I and several other detainees, including the first plaintiff, initiated a hunger strike at the same time to uphold our rights.
“In response to our and our families’ hunger strike outside prison, the prison officers acted aggressively by attacking us (detainees) on the night of Feb 11, using uncalled for violence to suppress our protest.
“The plaintiffs and the families of the other inmates have lodged reports over the incident,” the man claimed in his affidavit sighted by Malaysiakini.
The man contended that the identities of the alleged aggressors are within the knowledge and access of the Prisons director-general and the home minister.
The second plaintiff said the documents on the alleged aggressors’ identities are necessary for the preparation of a main civil suit to seek damages over the alleged assault and battery.
“If this application is dismissed, then my rights as well as that of the first plaintiff would be jeopardised when it comes to obtaining remedy and/or appropriate damages from the prison officers involved in the incident,” the man contended.
Malaysiakini has reached out to the Attorney-General’s Chambers, which normally represents the Prisons Department and home minister in similar civil cases, for a response to the matter.
Suspicion of organised crime
Last month, human rights group Suaram represented the family members to lodge a complaint with the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) over the plight of the 32 detainees.
According to Suaram’s complaint letter, the detainees were arrested by the police between May and September last year over suspicion of involvement in an organised crime group called Geng TR.
All were charged under Section 130V(I) of the Penal Code. They were not offered bail as Section 13 of Sosma states that bail shall not be granted to those charged under the law.
Section 130V deals with the offence of being a member of an organised criminal group, which carries a penalty of a minimum of five years in jail and a maximum of 20 years.
