A police constable who ordered a reformasi supporter to strip off her clothes and squat told a Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) inquiry today that she did so as she was only following orders.

Policewoman Dayang Sabnam Ratman said she ordered Norazimah Mohd Nor, a mother of three, to strip off to see if she had hidden prohibited materials such as drugs.

"Upon reaching the special room I asked the suspect to take off her clothes. I requested her to do so because I wanted to make sure that she did not have prohibited materials such as drugs into the lockup," said Dayang.

She was testifying at the Suhakam inquiry into allegations of police brutality at the opposition- organised '100,000 People's Gathering' along the Kesas highway at Klang on Nov 5 last year.

"I then asked her to squat to see if she had hidden any small objects in her private parts such as drugs or heroin as there were also drug addicts detained in lockup, but after the search I could find no such materials and told her to put her clothes back on," said Dayang.

When commissioner and inquiry chairman Anuar Zainal Abidin asked her if she had forcibly made Norazimah to perform squats and sit-ups, she said "No".

Norazimah had told the inquiry on Jan 2 that she was arrested on Nov 4 while setting up her stall selling reformasi merchandise. She said she was then taken to Kapar police station where she was ordered to strip off and do sit-ups in front of a policewoman and other detainees. ([#1] I was ordered to strip naked, Suhakam witness testifies [/#], Jan 2)

Outside forces

Another police witness, Chief Inspector Szabrenna Pou Abdullah, testified that she interviewed a 17-year-old student, Umi Jumaina Mohd, who had been detained at the gathering, to collect "security intelligence".

Umi had earlier testified before the inquiry that she had her head scarf torn off and was beaten by policemen before being detained in a police lock-up for five days.

When asked what "security intelligence" meant, Szabrenna said, "We are just trying to obtain information on individuals or groups wanting to topple the government.

"She is a student, she is not even supposed to be at the gathering in the first place. She is a student therefore her responsibility is with her studies and the government," Szabrenna added.

Inquiry panel member Mehrun Siraj then asked if Umi should have been disciplined by her school instead, to which Szabrenna answered "we had to find out if she had been influenced by outside forces".

The inquiry continues at Suhakam headquarters in Menara Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur, tomorrow.

Anuar, former chief justice of Malaya, is assisted by Mehrun, the former law faculty dean at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, and Simon Sipaun, chairman of the Sabah Civil Service Commission.