Nude dancing, drinking urine and beating were among the alleged tortures six detainees had to undergo in a bid to force them to admit to committing robbery.

The tortures were allegedly carried out while they were under detention for 80 days.

The claims of harsh treatment were made by 31-year-old lorry driver K Rishikumar who was released after the 80-day remand.

He made the allegations at a press conference called by Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) in Petaling Jaya today.

His brother K Khrisnamurthy, 23, a lorry attendant, and four friends are still being detained under the controversial Prevention of Crime (Amendment) Act 2013 (Poca) for another 21 days after their 80-day remand ended.

Rishikumar ( pix, extreme left ), who was picked up on Dec 11, 2015 at Tapah, claimed he witnessed the torture from the glass partitions of the interrogation rooms at the Selangor police contigent headquarters in Shah Alam, where they were first quizzed for a few days.

"My friend (wireman) N Sathiskumar (24) was slapped 52 times until his ear bled. He has hearing problem now.

“Another friend S Jegan (a land broker, 36) was hit in the eyes and now he cannot see clearly," he said.

"My brother and Jegan were forced to drink their own urine. Jegan and Sathiskumar were also asked by the cops to nude dance in front of them," he said, adding that he was beaten on the soles with water pipes and timing belt.

"All these tortures were done to force us to admit to committing crime as we were investigated for robbery," he claimed.

Hot, stinky lock-up

Soon after the interrogation, he said, the police separated them and took them to different police stations and locks-up.

They were remanded at different courts in Perak, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan.

The six were initially denied access to legal aid and medical attention, he said.

Rishikumar also said they were placed in a hot and stinky lock-up and wore the same clothes for at least 20 days at the Selongor police headquarters.

"The detention was mala fide and violated our fundamental rights," he said.

Also present were Suaram executive director Sevan Doraisamy, secretariat member N Nalini and counsel for the six, Shashi Devan.

Human rights lawyer Wong Kar Fai was also called to help out after Rishikumar's sister lodged a report about the alleged torture.

Shashi had opposed the police application for the five to be remanded for 21 days under Poca.

"The authority should charged them in court and grant them a just trial instead of using Poca against them," he said.

"The magistrate should have taken into consideration their 80-day remand before granting the police request," he added.

"The deputy public prosecutor, however, said the court has no discretion to reduce the (21-day) remand," he said.

"Now, the 21-day remand is expected to end on March 20, but the police plan to renew the remand for another 38 days," he claimed.

A police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the police plan to extend the remand.

The officer said police would not arrest people without a reason.

"If we cannot charged them in court and if they were involved in more than three cases, we can used Poca," he said.

When asked about the alleged torture, he said: "When they (the detainees) are under my care, they are in good condition; not a single injury is inflicted on them."

According to him, Rishikumar only complained about the treatment they received at the police station.

"I never denied them any right. They have access to legal aid and they can see their family every Thursday," he added.

Not normal

Meanwhile, Selangor police chief Abdul Samah Mat ( pix ) urged Rishikumar to lodge a report against the police over his allegation that the six were tortured in the Selangor police contingent.

"He should lodge a report. I assure a thorough and fair investigation will be conducted," he told Malaysiakini.

"If what he said was true, then we will act accordingly; we will not harbour anyone,” he added.

"These (beating, nude dancing, drinking urine) were not our normal ways of doing things. The police are trained to conduct interrogation professionally," he added.

He said the police will not go to the extent of torturing a suspect, even if he is a murder suspect.

When asked why the six were detained for 80 days, Abdul Samah said this could happen if the suspects were involved in multiple cases.

"I have to check how many cases they are involved. Sometimes a crime suspect may be involved in a few cases, then he may be remanded for several times. And the court allows it," he said.

Meanwhile, Nalini said the tortures alleged by Rishikumar were the same form of torture allegedly used under the Internal Security Act (ISA) and Emergency Ordinance (EO).

She said the methods used by the police to go on a 'roadshow' in three states to secure a 80-day remand for the six suspects who were later put under Poca could be construed as reviving the ISA and EO.

According to her, Rishikumar will lodge a police report this week over his detention and he might sue the government for illegal detention.