MACC's 11-hour grilling of Syed Saddiq is psychological torture - TBH Trust
The Teoh Beng Hock Trust for Democracy has condemned the MACC's holding and questioning of Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman for 11 hours yesterday as a form of "psychological torture".
"We stress that unnecessary and prolonged interrogation is a form of psychological torture, as it creates tremendous tension, jeopardises one’s mental health, and allows abuse of power while in custody.
"Prolonged interrogation infringes...
The Teoh Beng Hock Trust for Democracy has condemned the MACC's holding and questioning of Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman for 11 hours yesterday as a form of "psychological torture".
"We stress that unnecessary and prolonged interrogation is a form of psychological torture, as it creates tremendous tension, jeopardises one’s mental health, and allows abuse of power while in custody.
"Prolonged interrogation infringes everyone’s right to rest as stated in article 24 of the universal declaration of human rights," the trust said in a statement today.
Syed Saddiq (photo, above) was giving his statement to the MACC yesterday regarding the RM250,000 that was allegedly missing from a safe in his house.
Previously the Teoh Beng Hock trust had also criticised the MACC in 2018 after it questioned for nine hours Riza Aziz, the stepson of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak.
Najib himself was once questioned for seven hours, while Rosmah Mansor was grilled for almost 13 hours.
The trust said the problem lies with the MACC Act, which theoretically grants the graft buster the legality to interrogate a person for an indefinite period of time.
They cited Section 30(3)(a) of the act which states that a person being questioned shall "attend in accordance with the terms of the order to be examined, and shall continue to attend from day to day where so directed until the examination is completed."
"Teoh Beng Hock Trust for Democracy has been urging the government to amend the article to end unnecessary and prolonged interrogation, eliminate all forms of psychological torture, respect detainees’ right to rest, and prevent reoccurrence of the tragedy of Teoh," they said.
Teoh, who was an aide to DAP assemblyperson Ean Yong Hian Wah, was found to have fallen nine floors to his death at MACC's former Selangor headquarters in Shah Alam on July 16, 2009.
He was being held overnight at the graft buster’s office for questioning.
The trust said the MACC Act should comply with Lock-up Rules 1953 which states detainees must be given rest time between 6pm and 6am.
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