A number of recent allegations of improper conduct of police and other law enforcement officers must be investigated immediately, the Bar Council asserted today.

Its chairman, Kuthubul Zaman Bukhari, said such investigations should be carried out in a transparent manner.

"Nothing short of that can adequately address the public's legitimate concern over questions of abuse of police powers," he said in a statement.

Oral sex in lock-up

On May 22, newspapers reported that a magistrate had directed two accused persons to lodge reports pertaining to injuries allegedly sustained by them during police interrogation.

One of them further alleged that when she refused to admit to the commission of a crime, a police officer tried to force her to perform oral sex o­n a male inmate.

Another news report, o­n May 26, said that a juvenile looking after his father's video outlet in Gombak was arrested and handcuffed and then placed in a lock-up together with adult detainees despite telling police that he could call his father to the shop.

There was another report, o­n May 28, that Ipoh City Council enforcement officers had issued about 30 summonses under its bylaws for offences of "indecent behaviour" such as a young couple holding hands at the Ipoh Padang.

Overzealous

Kuthubul urged the authorities not to be overzealous in carrying out their functions and law enforcement officers to exercise common sense and reasonable restraint in executing their duties.

He said this was important when it concerned juveniles and young persons, more so when the suspected offence or misbehaviour was not a serious crime.

"Law enforcement will o­nly continue to have the respect of the public if it is carried out with fairness and common sense free from any excessive use of powers," the Bar chief added.