Seventeen Burmese refugees have had their detention extended after the prosecuting officer obtained postponement of mention of their case, the seventh time since their arrest in February.

Chief inspector R Rukumar applied to magistrate Aizatul Akmal Maharani for the postponement on grounds that "the investigation papers are still with the Attorney-General's (AG) Chambers". The case had earlier been transferred to him by the deputy public prosecutor.

The refugees, charged under Section 27 (5) of the Police Act 1967 for illegal assembly, are currently being held in Sungai Buloh prison.

They are among 18 who were arrested on Feb 17 while protesting in front of the Burmese embassy in Kuala Lumpur against the military junta and calling for the release of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners in their home country.

Excepting for a woman who pleaded guilty in April and was sentenced to five months' imprisonment from the date of arrest, the rest claimed trial.

Aizatul fixed hearing for Nov 29 and 30.