Call a lawyer to defend you and your remand period will be extended as punishment - that was what apparently happened to scrap metal dealer M Irulandy Pillai alias Ravi.

Ravi was detained by the police in Ipoh, Perak, last month on suspicion of purchasing a stolen heavy vehicle. He was locked up at the Shah Alam police headquarters and taken to the magistrate's court the next day to be remanded.

The police had sought a 14-day remand period but was only given seven days, until Sept 28.

When his remand expired last Thursday, Ravi was brought to court again. This time, the police sought an extension of another seven days.

Ravi's family members, who were present in court, were told by Ravi not to engage a defence counsel as the police had told him that if a lawyer was present, he would be detained longer.

Ravi was brought to court at about 2.30pm, but when the police saw that his family had engaged a lawyer, his presence before the magistrate was delayed until 4.30pm and the magistrate extended the remand order for another two days, until Sept 30.

The police informed Ravi's family members that he was not released because they had engaged a lawyer who had questioned the efficiency of the police in handling the matter.

Suaram's letter to IGP

All these were stated in a letter written yesterday by non-governmental organisation Suaram to Inspector General of Police Norian Mai.

In the letter, Suaram claimed that although Ravi's remand order expired on Sept 30, he was not released on that day.

"He was brought to the magistrate's court at about 11.45am on that day but was taken back to the police headquarters without being charged or released," the letter said.

When family members inquired about it, they were told that Ravi was being detained in connection with another case.

According to Suaram coordinator S Arutchelvan, police officer A Paramasivam had informed the family yesterday that Ravi was being detained on suspicion of committing theft.

Arutchelvam voiced his concern about the actions of the police, especially in the illegal detention of Ravi from last Saturday as well as what looks like an act of revenge over the family's act of engaging a lawyer.

He urged the IGP to investigate the matter and either to release Ravi or charge him for committing an offence.

Sister lodges report

Ravi's sister M Saraswathy has since lodged a police report against the Selangor police, the serious crimes division and Paramasivam, stating that Ravi was detained illegally by the police.

She said Ravi was brought to court last Saturday and was soon taken back to the police headquarters because there was no magistrate or police officer around.

"I was informed later by the police that Ravi was being re-arrested. I tried calling officer Paramasivam to get more information but he did not answer his telephone," she said.

"In my view, the police did not release or charge my brother on Sept 30. He was handcuffed the whole time and his things were left back at the police headquarters," she added.

She said the police have treated the magistrate's court in a contemptuous manner by not releasing Ravi on the stipulated date.

Court revision

Ravi's lawyer P Uthayakumar has also written a letter yesterday to Norian complaining that the police has abused its powers in this case.

He said the police failed to assist him in gathering more information regarding the status of his client even though he had made more than 10 telephone calls to the Shah Alam police headquarters.

According to him, the police had instructed Ravi's family not to engage a counsel, otherwise Ravi would be remanded for another seven days.

He added that the additional detention of Ravi was illegal and that by law the police should investigate first before making an arrest, unlike what was done in this matter.

"This is the height of abuse of police powers and the abuse of all known laws in the country," said Uthayakumar.

Uthayakumar has also filed an application at the Shah Alam High Court for a revision of Ravi's remand orders and illegal detention. No date has been fixed to hear the matter.

Meanwhile, Ravi is still locked up in the Shah Alam police headquarters.