As the illegal assembly trial for the ISA 7 entered its fifth day, a defence counsel told the Kuala Lumpur Magistrate's Court that he was "harassed" by two prosecution witnesses, both of whom are police officers.

When the hearing continued this afternoon, lawyer Wan Razali Wan Kadir told the court that he was verbally abused and kicked by the prosecution's first and second witnesses, and requested an immediate postponement to the hearing.

The two are Dang Wangi district deputy police chief Mohd Khasni Mohd Noor and chief inspector Badrul Hisham Baharuddin ( photo ) from Jalan Tun HS Lee police station. Both had given testimony in the court case earlier this week.

Arrest a potential witness

Wan Razali said the Mohd Khasni and Badrul were among a group of police officers who had "chided and assaulted" him during a scuffle near the court during the lunch break.

Some 300 varsity students had tried to march from the National Mosque to the court this afternoon to support the seven suspended university students on trial.

Wan Razali said he went to the march because he was concerned that the seven accused students might have taken part in it.

During the march, the defence lawyer saw the police arrested one of his potential witnesses, student leader Syahrir Mahmood.

"As a lawyer, I approached the police and told them he (Syahrir) was my potential witness. However, they hurled rude words at me and kicked me. This incidence involved the first and second witnesses by the prosecution," Wan Razali told the court. Syahrir was released on a police bail later in the evening.

At this juncture, deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Bache objected. He said the assault was not linked to the trial despite expressing his "sympathy" for Wan Razali.

However, Wan Razali argued that the arrest has affected the trial and requested for an immediate adjournment.

Postponement rejected

Magistrate Lim Kui Lee however rejected Wan Razali's request.

"I cannot say anything. This (the arrest) is within the police power," Lim replied.

The hearing continued with the testimony of prosecution's third witness Hanyan Ramlan, the Dang Wangi district police intelligence chief.

When Hanyan completed giving evidence, the magistrate put off the trial to Oct 27-30.

Syahrir is the spokesperson for Students Abolish ISA (Internal Security Act) Movement. He was arrested during the scuffle this afternoon and was held in the Dang Wangi police station for about five hours.

He is expected to be called as a witness in the illegal assembly trial of the seven suspended university students during an anti-ISA demonstration on June 8, 2001 at the National Mosque.