A couple claimed that they were harassed after being pulled over by the police and booked on suspicion of trafficking in drugs.

Insurance agent Lim Hen Sek, 26, and his wife Ang Ling Zher, 25, accused two police personnel, only known as 'Yusuf' and 'Faizal', of mistreating them without basis.

NONE Lim (right) told the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) that the policemen had insulted and manhandled him when he asked to jot down their identification numbers.

The couple had sought the help of Suaram, which organised the handing-over of a memorandum to Suhakam today.

Lim, Ang and two of their friends were on the way to their house in Bandar Mahkota Cheras on Dec 3, after spending the day shopping at The Curve. About 8.15pm they were signalled to stop by a police vehicle.

“A police officer named Yusuf instructed me to get out of the driver's seat and asked me out of the blue, ‘Have you ever broken the law?’ I was puzzled by the question and just kept quiet," said Lim.

“Yusuf then asked for my Mykad and driving licence. While he was checking my documents, another police officer, Faizal, approached my friend Ee Chin Chuan, who was seated beside me, and asked for his identification card as well."

The officers then searched the car but when they found nothing prohibitive, they conducted a body search on Ee, said Lim.

According to Lim, his friend was told to empty his pockets and the officers found several photographs of Ee’s foreign employees, which he had kept for their work permit registration.

"Then, the officer Faizal said he could suspect Ee of being an (illegal) agent, and although Ee explained the purpose of the photographs, the officers seized these,” recalled Lim.

Similarly, the officers also demanded the identification details of Lim, Ang and another friend, Soh See Jie, before escorting them to the Jalan Travers police station.

“At the station, Ee and I were told to take a urine test on suspicion of drug abuse.

“We concurred and informed officers that our lawyers were on the way. Yusuf reacted angrily and said rudely that the lawyers could wait outside the station.

NONE “I politely asked for Yusuf's identification details again, but he was offended and demanded to know what for,” said Lim, adding that he was silenced by Yusuf’s angry tone.

He said Yusuf then demanded that he and Ee undergo the urine test immediately, although they insisted on waiting for their lawyer.

Lim said he was manhandled when the officer tried to handcuff him.

“He said, Nak ikut atau tidak? in a loud voice and pushed me down while Faizal fastened the handcuffs.

“Ee tried to stop them from hurting me and held the officer’s hand but they pushed Ee back and another officer grabbed him to put handcuffs on him as well,” Lim said.

The officers then escorted the men to the Brickfields district police headquarters in Sri Petaling to undergo the urine test, which turned out to be negative.

Reason for complaint

Lim told reporters that it was his frustration with the behaviour of the policemen that prompted him to submit a memorandum to Suhakam to investigate the conduct of those involved.

He also accused Yusuf and Faizal of harbouring “malicious intentions” in arresting them.

NONE “This was clear abuse of power as they refused to reveal their identity, confiscated our belongings without any reason, reacted violently when we did not act in any bad manner and refused to allow us to contact our lawyers and family members when we were in the police station,” Lim said.

Suhakam commissioner Muhammad Sha’ani Abdullah ( right ) said the alleged oppression is regrettable.

He noted that there seems to be no end to such problems.

Sha'ani said the government’s continuous silence on countless Suhakam recommendations is “very frustrating”.

“It might seem that the government is not keen in resolving the people’s woes.

“You must know your rights and tell them off and at the same time, speak out against it,” he advised.