A senior lawyer today questioned the police Commercial Crime Investigation Department's (CCID) professionalism in detaining a 30-year-old woman, who is seven months’ pregnant, since May 18.

Jagjit Singh Bant Singh (photo) said his client was arrested in Petaling Jaya on May 18 and has since then been kept under remand in the Serdang district police lock-up, and today, moved to the Brickfields police lock-up.

However, during those days while on remand, he claimed his client had not been questioned.

"She is not being investigated for murder or a death penalty offence but allegedly for a financial offence, where it remains uncertain whether she is being investigated or being kept to assist in investigations," he said.

"It is inhumane to place a seven months' pregnant woman in a cold lock-up for five days, including the weekend. It is an abuse of the remand proceedings and an abuse of the process of the law. It is totally inhumane," Jagjit, a former a Sessions Court judge, added.

"Can someone imagine a seven months' pregnant woman sitting and sleeping in a lock-up, doing nothing for days?"

The woman was picked up at the Petaling Jaya Court Complex last Friday, after she went to see her male friend who was charged.

She was produced before a magistrate the next day, May 19, and according to Jagjit, the magistrate issued a four-day remand order against her upon the application of the CCID.

Detained five days, but no statement recorded

"Does it take five days for the CCID investigating officer to record a statement from my client? This simply shows how unprofessional the CCID is in keeping my client in a lock-up, even during weekends," he said.

Jagjit said his client's male friend was charged under the Financial Services Act and upon the remand order issued against him, he spent 28 days in lock-ups in Bukit Aman, IPD Brickfields, IPD Ampang, IPD Johor Bahru Utara, IPD Johor Bahru Selatan, IPD Melaka, IPD Nibong Tebal in Penang and IPD Serdang in Selangor.

He now fears the same would be imposed - being moved about in police lock-ups around the peninsula - on his client.

Involved in the Special Select Committee on amendments to the Penal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) in 2014, which had, among others, resulted in amendments to the remand provisions under Section 117 of the CPC, Jagjit expressed disappointment on how this had continuously been abused.

Jagjit added: "Last month I came across a 20-year-old boy, who was an ATM card mule. He was remanded for almost 30 days in lock-ups throughout the country. He is currently undergoing counselling to overcome the traumatic experience."

"There is a serious and urgent need for reforms in both these areas of remand and bail.

"Fundamental liberties of persons have been compromised by the abuse of the provisions of remand and bail. They must be judicially considered and not mechanically applied.

"Can you imagine what would happen to my client if she is put on a roadshow remand, like her friend spending 28 days in lock-ups throughout the country under the CCID?

"She is not only deprived of her extra nourishment pregnancy food but also deprived of her weekly pregnancy medical check-ups. Why can’t the CCID investigate first and arrest later?"