Deputy Internal Security Minister Noh Omar will be sued for 'breaching his promise' to free two Simpang Renggam detainees, said their lawyer M Manoharan.

However, Noh when contacted, refused to comment beyond saying that his words were 'twisted' during a meeting held with the lawyer in Putrajaya three weeks ago.

The meeting was held after Manoharan's clients - Balakrishnan Appala Naidu and Michael Soosai - had ceased a hunger strike against their continued incarceration following the government's indication to review their detention.

The duo, who have been held since April 29 for suspicion of gangsterism and other criminal activities, were part of the 236 inmates involved in the hunger strike .

They were detained under the Emergency (Public Order and Prevention of Crime) Ordinance 1967 which allows the authorities to detain suspects indefinitely without trial.

'He is a liar'

Manoharan strongly refuted the deputy minister's claim that his words were 'twisted'.

"Noh's a liar and has not kept his word. He specifically told me that he was elected by the people and he is for the people.

"I now know that he is for the police and is working hand and glove with them," said the lawyer when contacted.

During their talks, Manoharan had said that Noh agreed to release the duo - once documents proving Balakrishnan's detention was unlawfully executed - were provided to him.

Among the documents was a letter from the Gombak district office revealing that a remand order was not made out against Balakrishnan as claimed.

'Wife suffers miscarriage'

"I have specific instructions from Balakrishnan's wife, N Rukumanidevi, to sue Noh and the government for vicarious liability and damages for a breach of promise to release him," said the lawyer.

Rukumanidevi is currently hospitalised after having suffered a miscarriage late Wednesday night and wants to sue the minister and the government for her loss and anguish.

"We will sue for damages relating to her miscarriage. She was due in about 10 days or so. We will also sue for aggravated and exemplary damages for the mental anguish and distressed she has suffered," said Manoharan.

Balakrishnan's younger brother, Thirumoorty, said that his sister-in-law had been asking for her husband as her delivery date was at hand.

He added that she had not been eating adequately with all that has been happening, especially due to concern over Balakrishnan's health following the hunger strike.

"My brother was sent back to the centre two days ago from the Johor Baru General Hospital. His condition has not improved but they sent him back. All we got from our enquiries was that he is well - according to the doctor - and all other information was only for prison authorities' ears," said Thirumoorthy.

Balakrishnan, a former MIC branch chief, had been hospitalised for the second time after complications arose due to his 16 day hunger strike.

His wife's miscarriage was the second she has had after an earlier pregnancy was botched when Balakrishnan was arrested once before in 1998.