The Petaling Jaya police yesterday called in Malaysiakini videographer Shukri Mohammad for questioning in relation to a report he had lodged on the alleged tampering of a videotape while in police custody.

The tape contained footage of a candlelight vigil.

Shukri said he was quizzed by police for about an hour starting from 11am.

"I was interviewed by ASP Azlinda Roslan. She asked me questions like what I was doing at the vigil and if I knew the organisers of the vigil.

syukri mohamad malaysiakini videographer cameraman "I said I didn’t know the organisers until I arrived at the location. She also wanted to know if I knew the officer who arrested me but I told her I didn’t as it was dark at the time," he said.

According to Shukri, the police also took hold of the tampered tape as evidence to facilitate their investigations.

"They wanted to know if we had a copy of it and I told them we did and we co-operated by giving them the tape," explained the videographer.

The videotape was seized alongside a video camera by police at a candlelight vigil held to protest against the Internal Security Act (ISA) and commemorate the first anniversary of the Nov 10 Bersih rally, when 24 participants were arrested.

bersih 1st year anniversary pj vigil arrest 111108 police charge at crowd 2 Among those arrested were several prominent Pakatan Rakyat politicians like Petaling Jaya Utara DAP parliamentarian Tony Pua, Selangor exco Ronnie Liu and Kampung Tunku state assemblyperson Lau Weng San.

All of them were released on police bail after they were held overnight for questioning.

The videotape and the video camera were later returned and found to be tampered with, prompting Shukri to lodge a police report.

23 to be charged on Friday

Although initial indication showed that the police would not pursue legal action against them when bail was cancelled, 23 protestors, excluding Shukri, have been told to report to the Petaling Jaya Magistrate court on Friday at 10am when they are expected to be charged.

gobind singh deo According to their lawyer, Puchong DAP parliamentarian Gobind Sing Deo, all 23 may be charged with unlawful assembly.

"I have not learnt of the offence yet but I suspect it would be for unlawful assembly," Gobind told Malaysiakini.

Shukri was not among those told to report to the Petaling Jaya Magistrate court.

Shukri’s lawyer, Bar Council Human Rights Committee chairperson Edmund Bon when contacted said they have yet to receive any instruction to report to court.