Six months after the candlelight vigil demanding the release of Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah, police are now probing three Bersih officials for allegedly failing to submit a 10-day notice for the gathering.

Bersih secretariat manager Mandeep Singh, advocacy officer Zoe Randhawa, and outreach officer Chan Tsu Chong have been summoned to the Dang Wangi police headquarters to have their statements taken on May 15.

The trio is being probed under Section 9(5) of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, in relation to the candlelight vigil held at Dataran Merdeka on November 21 last year, in solidarity with Maria who was held under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012.  

When contacted, Mandeep said the police have no basis to probe them. 

"This is another form of harassment against us. I don't see any basis for the investigation as Maria is out (of prison). Why does the police suddenly want to investigate three Bersih staff after six months?" he said.  

"The police called the Bersih office two weeks ago and we told them to write in. We received it (the notice) this morning," he said. 

Instead of calling the Bersih chief and its staff "on and off" for probes, he suggested the police hold a full two-day session to record statements from them, on whatever pending cases. 

"This will be convenient for both parties."

Both Mandeep and Maria Chin were arrested on Nov 18, 2016, one day before the Bersih 5 rally. At least 17 activists and politicians were reportedly nabbed during the run-up to the massive rally. 

Maria was detained for 11 days under Sosma and investigated under Section 124C of the Penal Code for activities detrimental to parliamentary democracy. 

Mandeep was previously probed under Section 147 and Section 511 of the Penal Code, for rioting and attempting to commit said offence respectively.