The mother of one of those detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) in connection with the 'Jihad Nine' bank robbery said she would be submitting a habeas corpus application soon to seek her son's release after visiting him at the city police headquarters yesterday.

Ramlah Ismail, mother of Mohd Sobri Abu Hassan, said, "The police told us that he is innocent, that he is just being held to assist their investigations and Sobri himself told us he is innocent, so why is he still being detained under the ISA?"

Habeas corpus is writ of law that forces the authorities to release detainees if it can be proven that the detention order was given in bad faith ( mala fide ).

Sobri was among six people arrested after a robbery attempt by the 'Jihad Nine' at the Jalan Gasing Southern Bank branch in Petaling Jaya on May 18.

Police chief Norian Mai on June 7 told reporters that the group was responsible for a series of robberies to finance its efforts to create a purist Islamic society through a holy war.

Ramlah said her son was remanded by the police on May 29 to "assist in police investigations". However, on June 13, Sobri's wife, Zaharah Saad, received a phone call from a police officer informing her that Sobri had been arrested under the ISA.

During the botched robbery in May, two suspects were injured, one was killed and another managed to escape. The escaped suspect was later arrested and the three were charged under the Firearms Act which carries the death penalty.

They are Adnan Mohd Daud, Zainan Harith and A Rasid Ismail. Adnan died last week of injuries sustained during the raid.

Lost weight

Ramlah also said she had been warned that any attempt by her or Zaharah to approach lawyers or reporters, would adversely affect Sobri's detention.

"They (police) told me that if we were to take legal action or even speak to reporters, it would make things more difficult for Sobri, perhaps even lengthening his detention period.

"But if people come to me and offer help, I asked them, what can I do? Then they kept quiet," Ramlah said.

Ramlah, who was accompanied by Sobri's wife and children to see him yesterday, said he appeared pale and was dressed in clothes one size bigger.

"Perhaps they are trying to hide that he had lost weight. There were scars on his wrists which might have come from his handcuffs," Ramlah added.

She also said that Sobri, 40, a father of four who works as a van driver and food vendor, appeared to have lost his memory.

"He kept asking us not to do anything and said he was being treated well. But when we told him about family matters, he seemed to have forgotten everything.

"He seemed like a different person," Ramlah said, adding that in the meeting room, Sobri was seated facing his family and the three or four police officers standing behind them.