Those who allege to have been tortured by the police should lodge a police report, said Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar who promised an investigation.

“ Go and lodge a report. We will investigate,” he said as based on a recording of a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

Khalid was asked to comment on claims this morning by human rights group Suaram that several detainees held under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 had been tortured and sexually abused.

Khalid later told Malaysiakini later that if they do not wish to file a report with the police, they could do so with the Enforcement Agencies Integrity Commission (EAIC).

Suaram had released copies of six letters detailing the alleged torture which were purportedly handwritten by the detainees and then passed to Suaram's lawyers.

Among others, the detainees purportedly claimed to have suffered beatings, were subject to degrading treatment and were coerced into making false statements implicating themselves.

Suaram said it was also in possession of a seventh letter but would not be releasing it to public because it contained matters being contested in court.

It said that police reports had already been lodged by the detainees' next-of-kin while Suaram had lodged a complaint with the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam).

“P olice have already recorded statements from three of the detainees regarding the abuse but since then there has been no progress.

“ For one detainee who was quite severely tortured, a police report was made but the police have yet to come and record his statement,” said Suaram lawyer Farida Mohammad.