Human rights group Suaram alleged a man was yesterday detained under the Prevention of Crime Act (Poca) 1959, after being subjected to repeated arrests in the last three weeks.

Suaram executive director Sevan Doraisamy said in a statement today that L Thuraisinggam, 24, was initially picked up by the Petaling Jaya police on May 25, for allegedly for being a member of a robbery gang called "Gang Koki".

He was then released, before being re-arrested six more times and placed under police custody in different jurisdictions, namely Shah Alam, Gombak, Sungai Buloh, Brickfields and Dang Wangi.

"From May 25 until today, the court has rejected four out of seven remand extensions against the detainee requested by the police, but Thurasinggam remains under custody.

"Despite being subjected to arbitrary arrests, the detainee has also alleged he was subjected to torture, where he claimed he was beaten by fellow inmates and also forced to confess to allegations against him.

"Throughout Thuraisinggam's detention, his family was also kept in the dark about his arrests and detentions, leading them to worry about his wellbeing," Sevan said.

He dubbed the continuous detention of Thuraisinggam as a violation of human rights and the law, under the Criminal Procedure Code (Act 593).

"Besides, physical and mental torture inflicted on the detainee by being held behind bars close to a month, without any charge, also shows how irresponsible the police force is, in handling the case.

"Clearly, the government has not learned from the death of detainee P Balamurugan," he said, adding that the family of Thuraisinggam has not been allowed to meet him after his detention in Poca.

"The family has already filed a complaint with the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) and lodged a police report on the continuous detention of the detainee.

"Suaram condemns, in the strongest term, the police's violation of human rights and the law, as well as any form of torture inflicted on detainees. Suaram urges Thuraisinggam and other Poca detainees to be freed immediately and given a chance to be fairly tried in the court of law.

Poca was enacted to target “criminals, members of secret societies, terrorists and other undesirable persons” in Malaysia.

Under the Act, an individual can be detained for up to 60 days without trial.