DAP has questioned why a "Datuk Seri" businessperson was not clad in the lockup uniform when he was brought to court for further remand.

Liow Soon Hee, 29, is facing several charges for the assault of three People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela) members and several drug-related cases. He was previously remanded for four days to facilitate investigations.

However, Liow was not pictured wearing the standard issue purple lockup uniform when remanded, prompting Kampung Tunku assemblyperson Lau Weng San to demand that inspector-general of police Mohammad Fuzi Harun explain such “preferential treatment.” 

“Why should we give special treatment to Liow by allowing him to use his money game company's uniform? Isn't that giving him publicity? He shouldn't have it,” Lau told reporters at the Selangor DAP headquarters this morning.

Lau pointed out that police and MACC officers usually clad the detainees in orange and purple lockup uniforms respectively when they are led to court for further remand.

He showed the photos of detained Penang executives councillor Phee Boon Poh (photo), former Johor executive councillor Abdul Latif Bandi, as well as Perak PKR state assemblypersons Tan Kar Hing and Chang Lih Kang as proof. 

Phee was detained for alleged abuse of power over letters issued by his office involving an illegal carbon filter factory in Penanti, Penang while Abdul Latif was remanded and charged over a graft case involving the conversion of Bumiputera property titles.

Both were clad in the orange MACC lockup attire when presented to the court for further remand, while Tan and Chang were clad in purple police lockup attire as both were involved in the Tangkap Najib assembly. 

Lau said he will send a letter to the top cop to ask for a meeting and demand an explanation.

'Should be free to wear own clothes'

Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng, who was also present, said detainees should not wear lockup attire as they were not found guilty yet.

“They are arrested and not being charged, but they wore lockup uniforms when presented to the court...they should be free to wear their own clothes. This is the principle of 'innocent until proven guilty.'

“Otherwise, they will face humiliation despite not being found guilty. Their family and children will face similar humiliation,” added the lawyer.

The then IGP Khalid Abu Bakar had reportedly said that it is usual practice by the police to bring suspects to court in purple lockup uniforms to differentiate them from civilians.

Padang Serai MP N Surendran refuted this, however, insisting that police are breaching their own standard operating procedurs in doing so.

He argued that the practice may result in prejudice towards the suspects.