A retired police officer told the Kuala Lumpur High Court today that he had seen red marks on the body of former Internal Security Act (ISA) detainee Abdul Malek Hussin, who is claiming RM30 million in damages for his ordeal.

However, Ujang Ali, 57, said the detainee had appeared 'happy, calm and cheerful'.

He added that he did not ask about the marks, nor did the plaintiff voice any complaints of being assaulted when Ujang had given him a change of clothes.

He said Malek ( photo, left ) did not show any signs - as claimed in his suit - of having been stripped naked in an air-conditioned room, beaten more than 60 times to unconsciousness, sexually harassed and assaulted, forced to drink urine and threatened with an HIV/Aids virus injection.

On the contrary, Ujang said the plaintiff appeared to be in high spirits and he assumed the marks on his legs to have been caused by a fall suffered by the plaintiff before his arrest on Sept 25, 1998.

"The plaintiff looked happy, calm and cheerful. He did not show any signs that he was hurt. I saw red marks on both hands of the plaintiff but he looked calm and cheerful," said the former police officer.

'Did not complain'

Ujang also denied that Malek had voiced complaints on the assault and battery to the examining medical officer Dr Vasantha Ponniah, who had asked him about the limp in his walk as he entered her office on Sept 29 and about the bruises on his body.

To another question from Malek's counsel R Sivarasa on standard practice involving ISA detainees, Ujang initially refused to answer whether former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim had been brought to Bukit Aman on the night of his arrest under the ISA on Sept 29, 1998.

The witness cited the Official Secrets Act (OSA) but upon being directed by Justice Hishamudin Mohd Yunus, who for the second time in as many days rejected the use of the OSA to withhold information from the court, Ujang affirmed that Anwar had been brought to Bukit Aman.

Denying that the detention centre at Bukit Aman had been full at the time of Malek's arrest, thus warranting a transit at the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters where the alleged assault occurred, Ujang conceded that other ISA detainees had been brought to Bukit Aman at odd hours of the night in the past.

Abdul Malek has named the government, the inspector-general of police and Special Branch officer Borhan Daud as respondents in his suit.

The hearing continues tomorrow.