Human rights lawyer and pro tem secretary-general of Parti Reformasi Insan Malaysia (Prim) P Uthayakumar (photo) was released from the Sentul district police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur this evening.

The lawyer was set free at about 5pm after the police recorded his statements regarding his handling of several cases concerning deaths in police custody.

The vocal campaigner against police brutality was released briefly this afternoon but was re-arrested minutes later and taken to the Sentul police headquarters.

When contacted later, Uthayakumar said he claimed lawyer's privilege in all the statements.

"I am merely discharging my duties as a lawyer and upholding the cause of justice. I took these cases pro bono and instead this is what I get," said the lawyer, who sounded upset.

Criminal intimidation

Yesterday, Uthayakumar was arrested by a police team led by Selangor CID chief Abu Bakar Mustafa at the Sepang Magistrate's Court for alleged "criminal intimidation".

It was reported that he purportedly threatened a police officer during an inquest in Sepang last year.

The inquest involved a detainee's death during police custody in the district.

Uthayakumar's arrest came at the conclusion of an inquiry at the magistrate's court regarding the death of another detainee, S Tharmarajen,19. He was representing the deceased's family.

The family claim the deceased died due to police beatings but government doctors attributed it to pneumonia or tuberculosis.

Malaysiakini learnt that Uthayakumar was held under Section 506 of the Penal Code although the exact reasons for his arrest were not revealed.

Not cooperating

Earlier, Prim police watch and human rights committee chairperson RN Rajah said the lawyer was re-arrested after a warrant of arrest was issued against him for not cooperating with the police.

Rajah said he signed Uthayakumar's police bail at 1.30pm in Sepang but instead of releasing him, police took him through the backdoor and detained him again.

He added that police were furnished with a list containing the names of 21 lawyers who were prepared to defend Uthayakumar.

Prim's work in highlighting police brutality attained further recognition when it was awarded the Human Rights 2002 Award by human rights organisation Suaram last December.