Several cases of alleged harassment of lawyers by the police have led to a meeting between the Bar Council and Inspector General of Police Bakri Omar yesterday.

The latest case involved S Bala (left), who on April 18 was detained for three hours while trying to visit his client held at the Petaling Jaya district police station. No charges ever laid on the lawyer.

An official complaint on the incident was lodged at the same police station on April 27, but no official word on the matter was heard since.

Speaking to reporters after the meet, Bar Council president Yeo Yang Poh said that according to Bakri, investigations on the matter had been completed and forwarded to the Attorney-General's chambers but the police chief declined to elaborate.

Lawyers march

Earlier, about 30 lawyers armed with banners and placards held a march from the nearby Straits Trading building to the gates of Bukit Aman in support of the six representatives who attended the meet.

Lawyer N Surendren said he and his colleagues were upset when there were police interference with their work and they were present today to push for action taken against those who harassed lawyers acting in the public's interest.

"We have not heard of any arrest made on the police who are responsible for detaining a lawyer who was doing his duty. We demand the police take action, that's why we are here," he said.

Yeo said that a proposal to allow lawyers easier access to detained clients was also discussed.

"We want to set up a common understanding as to what kind of preliminary information can be easily available when a lawyer goes to a police station because he wants to represent someone who is detained in the police station," Yeo said.

Further dialogues to ensue

According to Yeo, the council's stand on the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) was also made clear to Bakri, who has repeatedly stated his objection to the commission.

Yeo conveyed to Bakri that while the public has a right to demand a better police force, the deplorable working conditions and low wages received by the police also demand public attention. .

"It is legitimate for the Malaysian people to clamor for the IPCMC, but we must not forget that a better police force must also come with adequate and reasonable working conditions," Yeo said.

Asked if he meant that the police would accept the IPCMC if they were given better benefits, Yeo said Bakri did not attach the issue of remunerations as a condition for the IPCMC, but that it was equally relevant.

"Our position remains the same. We (and the police) do have different views. We have put forward the idea of further dialogue, the police said that they will consider," he said.

A senior police officer has also been tasked with overseeing constant communication between the council and the top brass of the police.