Those detained and charged under the Security Offences Special Measures Act (Sosma) recently were denied access to legal representation by police, Suaram says.

It said that a lawyer provided by the NGO was not informed that his client would be charged, and when asked, police concealed information on the charging of two others under Sosma.

According to Suaram coordinator Syukri Razab, the lawyer provided by Suaram was only informed by accused Mohd Khairil Mi's family that he would be charged following a text message sent by police the night before.

Mohd Khairil was charged in Negri Sembilan while two others were charged in Perak and Kuala Lumpur.

Suaram said that police did not state any of the charges in their reply to Suaram's letter to deny the NGO's request to visit the detainees on May 21.

“On May 22 Mohd Khairul's family told Suaram's lawyer that they received a text message from police at 9.20pm to say he will be charged at the Port Dickson magistrate court on May 23 at 3pm.

“This meant that Mohd Khairil could not meet with his lawyer before taken to court, that his lawyer had to ask the prosecutor for time to consult with his client before the charge was preferred,” he said.

He added that Suaram's lawyer had also asked if other Sosma detainees will be charged but was told by police that only Mohd Khairil will be charged.

'Police concealed information'

However, two other detainees Mohd Armie Fatihah Mohamad Hashim and Mohd Hafiz Zahri Suparyatnoh were charged at the same time in Taiping and Kuala Lumpur respectively without legal representation.

“It is clear that police had ill intentions in concealing these crucial information to delay access to legal counsel.

“Suaram condemns this as it goes against Article 5(3) of the Federal Constitution which states that all detainees must be informed of the grounds for arrest and access to legal counsel of choice,” he said.

To date, 11 individuals have been arrested under the latest Sosma dragnet for allegedly promoting terrorism.

Six were released on May 25 after the lapse of the 28 days allowed by Sosma for detention for investigation, while four have been charged.

Under the Sosma, detainees must be either released or charged 28 days after they are arrested.

The four are accused under Section 130 G(a) and Section 130 (J) of the Penal Code for encouraging terrorism or supporting terror activities.

Mohd Hafiz and Mohd Armie were not provided legal counsel, Mohd Khairil is represented by a lawyer provided by Suaram while Azizah Yusof is represented by a lawyer appointed by her family.

Mohd Khairil is accused of promoting an ideology which could threaten public order in Syria, the exact charge preferred against Malaysia's first Sosma detainee Yazid Sufaat (right) , which was later quashed.

Mohd Hafiz and Mohd Armie are charged with supporting a rebel army now fighting in Syria, the Islamic State Iraq and Syam (Isis).

Azizah, a housewife, is charged with abettment by stating her support for a terrorist group through Facebook. All are not allowed bail.

Yanto Pandi is the latest to be arrested on May 1 and his 28-day investigation period will lapse on May 29. He must be charged or released by then.