Slapped, kicked and burned with a lighter - this is the alleged abuse two teenage brothers claimed to have suffered at the hands of the police, who purportedly wanted them to sign a witness statement.

Their lawyer, T Shasi Devan, revealed this to reporters after submitting a memorandum to the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) in Kuala Lumpur today.

The brothers, Letchumanan Naidu, 19, and Vikram Naidu, 17, were detained in connection with a brawl on April 14 under Section 117 of Criminal Procedure Code and held at the Ipoh district police headquarters.

Currently, they are being held at the Kluang prison in Johor, under the Prevention of Crime Act (Poca).

Sashi (photo, left) said when he visited the brothers on Aug 10, the pair related their ordeal during police detention.

“They told me that on April 14 and 15, (police personnel) used duct tape to cover their eyes. They were then taken out of the holding cell and burned with a lighter.

“Both of them did not admit, so they were slapped and kicked. Their hair was pulled.

“I asked them if they got any medical attention, but they said due to fear, they did not ask for a doctor,” he added.

According to Sashi, the brothers signed the statement and was subsequently detained under Poca.

He said the brothers were released on April 22 after nine days in police custody.

Contacted later, inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar said the allegation would be investigated.

“We will check the matter, and action will be taken if there was any wrongdoing (on the part of the police personnel),” Khalid told Malaysiakini.

Short-lived liberty

Sashi said Letchumanan and Vikram could only celebrate their liberty for a month before they were re-arrested on May 22.

The lawyer said his clients were detained for 60 days at the Ipoh detention centre under Poca.

When the detention order expired on July 20, the brothers were released and electronic monitors were attached to them.

On the same day, a police personnel called the brothers to come to the police station to get the electronic devices changed, claiming that they were faulty, according to Sashi.

“When the duo arrived at the police station, they waited for the home ministry officers for three hours before being taken to a room.

“The police told then them they would be jailed.”

Sashi said the brothers were made to sign an agreement for detention after the police claimed that their sentence would be reduced should they ink it.

The brothers were later sent to Kluang prison to be detained for two years under Poca.

Human Rights group Suaram executive director Sevan Doraisamy, who was present, urged Suhakam to investigate.

Suhakam commissioner Aishah Bidin, who received the memorandum from Sevan and the brothers' family, said they would help appeal against the detention.