The Bar Council, the judiciary, the police and the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) will put their heads together o­n Saturday to examine a situation that is increasingly causing concern.

Issues of police brutality and the rights of detainees have surfaced periodically for several years now. While there has been much debate, little has been done to right the wrongs.

Solutions sought

Organising chairperson Stanley Sinnapan said the workshop hopes to highlight abuses suffered by remand suspects and to find ways to overcome the problem.

Among the issues to be raised is the 'chain-remand order'. This refers to the alleged police practice of holding suspects for more that 100 days in total by obtaining remand orders from different magistrates at different times. Generally, it should not exceed 28 days including o­ne extension of the order.

Other issues are problems faced by remand prisoners and their lawyers, the powers of the police and abusive treatment meted out by the authorities.

"We will also propose amendments to improve the situation," said Sinnapan.

The council hopes that the workshop will educate those involved in the administration of justice - the judiciary, police and lawyers - o­n the rights of detainees.

Sinappan said some 100 Bar members and guests are expected to attend the closed-door workshop at the council's auditorium in Leboh Pasar Besar., Kuala Lumpur.

They are expected to include High Court judge Zulkefli Ahmad Makinuddin and Sessions Court judge Akhtar Tahir, Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) vice-chairperson Harun Hashim and a senior police officer.

Lawyers M Puravalen, M M Athimulan, Jerald Gomez and Edmun Bon will present working papers.