Rodziana Ridzuan, a 25-year-old lawyer, was looking forward to ushering in the new year with good music and the company of her friends.

But little did she expect to be hauled up by the cops.

Rodziana was among 365 people held during a controversial raid on an event held at a private studio called Paul's Place in Jalan Klang Lama, Kuala Lumpur.

At about 10.45pm, the Brickfields police gatecrashed the party, where 15 bands were slated to perform for about 90 music lovers.

The patrons were then subjected to body searches.

And when Rodziana asked the officer-in-charge, identified as Inspector Azhar Muda, if he had a warrant, he allegedly replied: " Sini bukan Hong Kong, yang kena tunjuk waran. (This is not Hong Kong, where a warrant needs to be produced).

The lawyer claimed that the raiding team ignored her repeated demands to know on what grounds the patrons were being held.

Later, Azhar revealed that the studio was operating without a permit and the patrons would have to provide their statements as witnesses.

Urine tests

However, another surprise awaited the lawyer and her friends at the Brickfields district police headquarters. All those detained were subjected to urine tests to check drug abuse.

According to Rodziana, she was also asked to provide a statement based on questions fielded by a police officer.

Below were some of the questions posed to her:

  • Why were you at the venue (Paul's Place)?

  • Are you involved in any organisations?

  • What religion do you practice?

  • Do you believe in your religion?

  • You attended the 'concert' as a large group right? Who is the leader of your group?

    • Preparing lawsuit

    When Rodziana asked what the statement was for, a police officer replied that this was normal procedure.

    Refusing to sign the document, the lawyer also noted in the statement that she was making the statement in protest and maintained that she was being wrongfully detained.

    She told malaysiakini that it was neither a 112 statement (for witnesses) nor a 113 statement (for those who committed an offence).

    Rodziana also complained of how she was allegedly disallowed from lodging a police report while under detention and prevented from seeing her lawyer.

    It is learnt that several people eating at a foodstall around the corner and one individual sleeping in a car near Paul's studio were also held.

    Among them was a 28-year-old pregnant Singaporean, who had since lodged a police report over the incident.

    Rodziana, who was released at 6am on new year's day, had also filed a police report on the matter and is in the midst of preparing a lawsuit against the police.

    The police have since defended the raid, which was carried out following a tip-off, as a drug bust on a 'Black Metal' concert.

    They also claimed that seven of those detained had tested positive for illicit drugs.