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.