updated version

Police today confirmed that Nik Adli Nik Abdul Aziz, son of Kelantan Mentri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, has been detained for two years under the Internal Security Act over his alleged involvement in a militant group.

A spokesperson from the federal police headquarters said Nik Adli was immediately transferred to Kamunting, Perak, last night after he was served the detention order.

Nik Adli was arrested on Aug 4, was detained for 52 days for his alleged involvement in the Malaysian Mujahideen Group (KMM) which authorities claim were responsible for a spate of bank robberies, the bombing of a church and a temple and the murder of former Lunas state assembly representative Dr Joe Fernandez.

Six others were also arrested in early August but the Bukit Aman spokesperson said he did not have any details on the others.

However, Firdaus Masod, the lawyer for Noor Ashid Sakib - another ISA detainee in the August dragnet - told malaysiakini that the latter had been released early this morning.

When contacted in Kota Bharu, Nik Adli's wife Sles Monirah Sles Math said her husband was sent to Kamunting at approximately 6.15pm yesterday.

"His habeas corpus application was scheduled for today. His lawyers later told me that he had been sent to Kamunting," Monirah said, who sounded calm.

Habeas corpus is a legal writ which allows detainees under preventive laws to be released through a court order if it can be proven that their detention was done in bad faith.

The Kota Bharu High Court has set Oct 4 for the decision on his case.

Last visit

Monirah added that she had visited Nik Adli twice at the city police headquarters on Aug 28 and yesterday.

"The last time I saw him he looked quite healthy but had lost weight and had red spots on his hands. He said that they were due to mosquito bites but I really don't know what to believe," Monira said.

She saw Nik Adli at the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters at 3pm yesterday for an hour in the presence of four police officers.

Her two children and Nik Aini, Nik Adli's sister, were also present.

"They did not allow his brother, Nik Abduh, or any other family members to meet him because they claimed we did not submit their names when applying to meet him," she said.

Breaking international norms

The ISA controversy resurfaced this year on April 3 when the police arrested 10 Keadilan and reformasi activists for allegedly engaging in "militant attempts to overthrow the government".

Four were released unconditionally while six have been placed in Kamunting under similar two-year detention orders.

Last March Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced in Parliament that he would be breaking 'international norms' in order to maintain the peace and security of the country.

Key government leaders, including Mahathir, have justified the use of ISA - which allows detention without trial - in the wake of the terrorist attacks in the United States, which was blamed on Islamic militant Osama bin Laden.