The High Court in Kuala Lumpur today ordered the police and the Malaysian government to pay compensations of RM200,000 and RM300,000 to two youths, respectively, after ruling that their arrest and detention about four years ago, was unlawful.

In her judgment, Judicial Commissioner Rosilah Yop held that the police raid led by Sergeant-Major Abdul Manaf Jusoh at a motorcycle repair shop where Mohammad Shafiq Abdullah, then 17, and Muhammad Hafiz Saman, then 18, were working on May 21, 2008 was illegal.

Rosilah also held that Abdul Manaf, who was the first defendant in Mohammad Shafiq and Muhammad Hafiz’s lawsuit, had also been wrong in suspecting that the plaintiffs were involved in stealing motorcycle components, and in seizing them from the duo.

She further allowed their claims for medical treatment for injuries sustained after being beaten up by Abdul Manaf and other police personnel.

The plaintiffs, who are now 21 and 22, respectively, filed the suit on July 2, 2008.

They also named the Pandah Indah police station chief, Selangor police chief and the Malaysian government as the second to the fourth defendants.

In their statement of claim, Mohammad Shafiq and Muhammad Hafiz said they were arrested by Abdul Manaf and six personnel from the Pandan Indah police station while they were working at the motorcycle repair shop on May 21, 2008.

They were taken to the police station and interrogated, without any explanation.

The duo said Abdul Manaf and two other police personnel whom they could not identify, beat them up, causing bruises and internal injuries for which, they sought treatment at the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Hospital.

- Bernama