A Universiti Malaya student activist claimed trial in the Kuala Lumpur Magistrate's Court today to a charge of obstructing police officers in the performance of their duty.

Mohamed Bukhairy Mohamed Safian (right), a second-year student at the Islamic Academy, was charged with behaving aggressively to police officer Rohaizat Akbar Ramlie near the Ar Rahman mosque in Jalan Pantai Baharu about 11.35pm on Jan 6.

NONE Bukhairy (right) , 22, the deputy secretary of the Universiti Malaya students council, faces up to two years in jail or a fine of RM10,000, or both if he is convicted.

DPP Tan Sew Peng asked for bail to be set at RM6,000, but defence lawyer Farhana Abd Halim. argued that Bukhairy comes from a poor family and that his father had passed away.

"He also has to sit an examination paper tomorrow and next week as well, and a high bail amount will prevent (this, if he is unable to raise bail and is therefore remanded)," she said.

"Bail is to secure attendance in court, not to burden the accused. Furthermore, this is the first time he has been charged."

Magistrate Parvin Hameedah Natchiar set bail at RM2,000 in one surety and fixed Feb 16 for the case to be mentioned.

Before the proceedings began, Bukhairy said he was talking on his handphone at the back of the mosque when he was stopped by seven police personnel.

“The police showed their authority cards and asked for my Mykad. I requested that we go near the guardhouse where there was more light. I was afraid for my safety as they were not in uniform,” he said.

“I then moved towards the guardhouse but was immediately arrested ... I didn’t do anything wrong.”

‘Police intimidating students’

Lawyers Fadiah Nadwa Fikri and Farhana claimed that the students have been harassed by police since the Putra World Trade Centre incident last month, when they had submitted a memorandum on academic freedom to Deputy Higher Education Minister Saifuddin Abdullah.

NONE Fadiah (left) said following this and the Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) demonstration, plainclothes policemen have been tailing student leaders.

“They follow them to (lecture rooms) and have even asked which organisation they represent. They have been making their presence felt, resulting in the students feeling uncomfortable,” she said.

In Bukhairy's case, Fadiah said he had been scheduled to sit an examination last week but was arrested for no apparent reason.

“Police should stop intimidation of university students, just because they protested for their rights,” she said.

“We are continuously engaging with the students as they have approached (Lawyers for Liberty) for help and (are) getting legal advice. We hope such tactics are stopped.”

Farhana said the students have not lodged a police report on the harassment.

Suspended UPSI student Adam Adli Abdul Halim was present to lend moral support.

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