Police to question trio on death-in-custody demo
Three activists have been summoned for police questioning after they spoke at a demonstration (above) last week demanding justice for death-in-custody victims.
According to PSM central committee member S Arutchelvan, he along with NGO Edict executive director Khalid Mohd Ismath and NGO Caged spokesperson Rama Ramanathan will be required to present themselves at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters at 11 am this Monday (July 20).
Three activists have been summoned for police questioning after they spoke at a demonstration (above) last week demanding justice for death-in-custody victims.
According to PSM central committee member S Arutchelvan, he along with NGO Edict executive director Khalid Mohd Ismath and NGO Caged spokesperson Rama Ramanathan will be required to present themselves at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters at 11 am this Monday (July 20).
“We will be attending,” Arutchelvan told Malaysiakini, adding that they are in the midst of arranging for legal representation.
The trio is being investigated under Section 9(5) of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 (PAA).
The section stipulates that the organiser of an assembly who is convicted for failing to notify the police of an assembly is liable to a maximum fine of RM10,000.
According to the police notice issued to Arutchelvan, which Malaysiakini sighted, a police report was filed against the demonstration by a “senior police officer” one day after it took place.
Dang Wangi police chief ACP Mohd Fahmi Visuvanathan Abdullah confirmed the matter with Malaysiakini.
Last Thursday, Edict - which stands for Eliminating Deaths in Custody Together - had held a small demonstration outside the Bar Council Building in Kuala Lumpur.
They had gathered to commemorate death-in-custody victims Teoh Beng Hock and R Gunagesaran.
Speakers at the demonstration had also called for the formation of an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).
Before the gathering, Mohd Fahmi had informed Edict that its application to gather was incomplete as it failed to obtain the consent of the owner or occupier of the assembly venue, as required under Section 11 of the PAA.
Edict was also informed that its event was in violation of standard operating procedures under the recovery movement control order (MCO).
However, police did not bar the demonstration and observed from the sidelines as it occurred.
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