How could someone who was in hospital after undergoing major surgery carry out two snatch thefts?

DAP parliamentarian for Seputeh, Teresa Kok, posed this question over the detention of Hee Kok Leong, now 23, under the Emergency Ordinance on Dec 22, 2003.

He was held at the Simpang Renggam detention centre for two years, after which the period of detention was renewed for another two years, she told a press conference at her office in Kuala Lumpur today.

She distributed copies of hospitalisation records and documents from Hee's employer, a construction company, to show that he was at work at the time the snatch thefts took place.

According to the detention order, Hee was allegedly involved in two incidents recorded by police at the time. Both took place in Taman Desa, Kuala Lumpur, and involved the use of weapons like an axe, long knife and a chopper.

In June 2003, Hee and an accomplice allegedly snatched a woman's bag, RM200, a mobile phone and her necklace in Jalan Desa Mesra at 9.30pm. The following month, he was alleged to have carried out a similar theft in Jalan Desa Maju at 10.30pm.

"If Hee was suffering from intestinal obstruction, which required a major operation in June, it would have been impossible for him to commit crimes at the same time. The hospital also testified that he could only have recovered fully in three months," Kok pointed out.

Probe case

She called on the police to investigate the case thoroughly and to prosecute Hee if they had evidence, so that he could defend himself.

"We will pressure the internal security ministry to investigate the case... and free Hee from detention," she said.

"I have submitted appeal letters to the deputy minister, Mohd Johari Baharum, and I will push for a response."

The other snatch thefts were said to have taken place between January and September that year in a number of places around Kuala Lumpur, at various times of the day. Hee was arrested on Oct 5, 2003.

His parents, who recently appealed to Kok to intervene in their son's case, were also at the press conference. They said they were convinced of his innocence, describing him as a law-abiding person.