Human rights movement Suaram wants three teenagers, including a girl, held under the Emergency Ordinance (EO) to be released immediately.

The trio - Han Tong Hai, Wong Mei Lan and Teo Wai Lun - aged between 18 and 19 - were arrested in February in connection with the assault of a student.

They were later linked to four other criminal offences, which led to their detention under the EO. They are currently being held at the Simpang Renggam detention centre in Johor.

"The detainees have been deprived of their right to be tried in an open court and the right to defend themselves with legal representation," said Suaram executive director Yap Swee Seng in a statement.

He added that their detention was a grave violation of fundamental rights as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

'Bail money'

The watchdog was also concerned with a report that police had allegedly asked the detainees for 'bail money' between RM700 and RM5,000. Suaram demanded a probe into this.

"If this is true, it once again confirms that the lack of judicial review on the absolute power of arrest of the police would only lead to abuse of power and corruption," said Yap.

He added that to invoke the EO now, which was framed to deal with matters of national emergency in the wake of the May 13, 1969 riots, was a clear abuse of power.

Meanwhile, Suaram commended Higher Education Deputy Minister Ong Tee Keat's intervention into the case.

However, the movement said it was just the 'tip of the iceberg' concerning the abuse of the EO. Yap said records showed that 738 people were being held without trial under the security law.