The 61-year old homemaker who was allegedly asked to perform naked pirouettes while under police custody may sue those responsible for 'millions of ringgit' and an apology soon.

Cheng Pik Wai and husband Walter Lim has engaged prominent lawyer Sankaran Nair as counsel and he has advised them to sue.

At a press conference in Seputeh DAP headquarters, Sankaran said that among those who have flouted the law in relations to Cheng's detention include the supermarket in Kuala Lumpur where she was apprehended for alleged shoplifting and the police.

Formerly a Taiwanese, Cheng was allegedly nabbed by the supermarket guards for taking a blouse, which had yet to be paid, to the first floor where she bought a drink as she was thirsty but intended to continue shopping.

Elaborating, Sankaran said that there is an element of suspicion of theft only when the accused steps out of the premises with the stolen goods.

'No reason to strip her'

Sankaran also questioned the need for the police to allegedly strip Cheng and made her turn in circles three times, as alleged in the latter's police report on March 29.

"A simple pat-down would be perfect (for shoplifting suspects). There was no reason to strip her," he said, himself a former policeman with the rank of Assistant Superintendant.

Stating that Section 111 and 112 of the Criminal Procedure Code was "extremely clear" about the procedure for recording of statements from witnesses, Sankaran believes that the line of questioning by the police in relations to Cheng's police report of her alleged abuse, had breached the law.

"Why did the police continue asking these kinds of irritating, humiliating and embarrassing questions? [...] For goodness sake, the police are not the law but are bound by law," said Sankaran.

Meanwhile, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok defended media reports yesterday of Cheng's ordeal as she responded to Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin's allegations that the media had sensationalised the issue while police investigations into Cheng's complaints were still on-going.

"The police said they were investigating the case and that there would be no cover-up, but after reading the news I am afraid the public have made their verdict," said Zainuddin, according to the Star today.

Refuting this, Kok said that there was nothing wrong with the press quoting the police report made by Cheng as it is an official document which can be tendered in court as prima facie evidence.

Socially responsible press

Citing the nude-squats controversy which erupted after she exposed a video-clip of a young woman made to do squats in the nude while under police custody, saw the police taking immediate action the day after the media highlighted the issue.

"In this way, the press, which practises social responsibility, helps gets things done," she told malaysiakini.

Furthermore, Kok said that Cheng's plight was highlighted before the police began its investigations into the matter by recording her statement.

In a related development, Deputy Inspector-general of Police Musa Hassan reiterated that new lock-up rules, distributed to all police stations a month ago, clearly state that strip-searches cannot be conducted for minor offences.

"Intimate searches can only be conducted on those detained for suspected concealment of weapons and drug-related cases [...] and that too, must be carried out accordingly," said Musa according to the Star today.