Suaram: Sosma use a step towards ISA-type abuses

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The human rights group Suaram has expressed concern over the use of the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) against former Umno leader Khairuddin Abu Hassan.

It warned that this may be the first step towards the abuses seen under the abolished Internal Security Act 1960 (ISA).

Suaram said there should be no reason why the police cannot conduct a fair investigation and press charges against Khairuddin ( photo ) without resorting to Sosma.

“Terror threats aside, the misuse of ISA during its prime should have been an adequate lesson for all. The dangers of anti-terrorism legislation being used for political gain was a real danger and not a fictional one.

“While we acknowledge that Sosma has been utilised to address terror threats and genuine threats to national security in the past, the recent usage of Sosma may be the first step back into the dark days of ISA,” Suaram said in a statement today.

Khairuddin, who has gone to several countries abroad to lodge reports with local authorities against Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak over the 1MDB issue, was re-arrested yesterday, just after being released at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex when his remand period expired.

He was previously being investigated under Section 124C of the Penal Code, which deals with activities detrimental to parliamentary democracy.

With his re-arrest, Khairuddin is also being investigated under Sections 124K and 124L of the Penal Code, which deal with sabotage and attempted sabotage against the state, respectively.

Abolish Sosma and release detainees

Sosma is a set of special procedures for dealing with security offences, including Sections 124C, 124K, and 124L of the Penal Code.

Among others, it allows for detention without trial for up to 29 days and the use of electronic monitoring devices.

The ISA, which also provided for detention without trial, has for long been criticised for being abused as a tool to silence political dissidents.

Suaram said Khairuddin’s re-arrest just after he was released showed that the police have no regard for decisions made by the court.

“As a country that practices rule of law, the police force must take into the account decisions made by the courts and not act with impunity and forcefully overturn court decisions,” it said.

Suaram also reiterated its call to abolish Sosma and other laws that allow for detention without trial, and to release detainees held under these laws.

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