Police today secured a two-day remand order against 29 individuals in relations to the sit-in by activists at the Federal Territories Customs Department headquarters yesterday.

Of the 29 individuals, 26 were activists arrested during the sit-in while three others were arrested during a gathering outside the Kelana Jaya police station last night.

They were arrested under Sections 143, 353 and 186 the Penal Code to assist in investigations.

Section 143 deals with illegal assembly, Section 353 deals with assault of a public servant and Section 186 deals with obstructing a public servant on duty.

Khalid Ismath who was arrested at the Customs Department complex at about 11am was released earlier today after the court denied the remand application.

About 15 lawyers were present to represent the 29 individuals during the remand hearing.        

Yesterday, some 100 activists gathered at the Customs Department complex to demand answers to 106 questions from the department's GST information centre.

As no answers were forthcoming, the activists decided to hold a sit-in. Police moved in on the group at about 5pm and arrested 82 people.

A vigil was then held at the Kelana Jaya police station to demand for the group's release. A few scuffles with the police led to several more arrests.

Most of the activists detained for the sit-in were released last night.

Procedures flouted

Bon Advocates pupil Thoo Suet Mei, who was part of the team representing the activists in the remand hearing, told Malaysiakini they were remanded without valid reasons.

Despite police claims, she said the activists were not given reasons for their arrest and statements were taken without the presence of lawyers.

They only found out why they were arrested at the remand hearing, she said.

She complained that the activists were not given basic amenities like water which was not not supplied in the women cell during the remand.  

"The reason given by the police is, water is out of stock", Thoo said.

As such, Thoo said the police have breached Section 28A of the Criminal Procedure Code and Article (5) of the federal constitution.

Section 28(A) of the Criminal Procedure Code details the rights of an arrested person whereas Article (5) of the federal constitution guarantees the fundamental rights of a person.

CHAI JIAN MEI is a trainee reporter at Malaysiakini.