updated version A witness in the ongoing Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) inquiry today testified that the police behaved like "gangsters" when they set upon him during the crackdown against opposition supporters last November.

"They beat me like gangsters. I was punched in the face, hit at my sides and all over my body," Hafzal Ismail, 27, told the inquiry.

The three-member panel, headed by former judge Anuar Zainal Abidin, is investigating allegations of police brutality against the participants of the "100,000 People's Gathering" on Nov 5.

Hafzal, an engineer, said it happened when he was leaving the Kesas Highway upon learning that the Keadilan-organised gathering on Jalan Kg Kebun, Klang, had been aborted.

Police roadblocks near the Kota Kemuning toll booth forced an estimated 10,000 supporters to abandon their cars there and then.

Assaulted despite cooperating

Hafzal said that he was stopped by the police and told to get out of his car with his wife still inside.

He said he was then taken to the back of a Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) truck, where he was set upon by riot police.

According to Hafzal, the police had acted unprofessionally as he was beaten despite giving full cooperation.

"I was at a police roadblock where the police requested to examine my car. I permitted them to do so. After they finished there was a knock on my car window.

"A policeman then told me to alight from the car as the officer wanted to speak to me. I cooperated again and was brought to an FRU truck," Hafzal said.

He said he was then assaulted by five to six riot policemen, sustaining injuries in the face, side and body.

"I was beaten so badly that my face and eyes were swollen, my nose was bleeding and I was further kicked in the back and caned," Hafzal testified.

According to him, his wife was shocked after seeing the after effects of his encounter with the police.

"I question the morality and the professionalism of the police," Hafzal said.

"There are still marks on my face," he added, showing the inquiry commissioners the scars allegedly caused by the beatings.

Hafzal added that despite being brought to a hospital, he was not given immediate medical attention.

"I asked for medical attention but it was only given the next morning. We were not given proper treatment and no medicines were given to us (other detainees).

"My injuries were serious, so I asked (the police for help) again. They only relented after a doctor intervened," Hafzal said.

Kicked, punched and caned

Meanwhile, another engineer, Eddie Shukur Ramzi, 24, testified he was on his way to service his car when riot policemen chased him.

"I was walking because my van was caught in the jam and I was feeling very hot. I saw riot policemen in front and they were giving orders to disperse.

"Even though I moved away, I was chased by the police, caught and then beaten with batons and canes, punched and stepped on. They later hauled me to a truck," Eddie said, adding that he was placed in a police truck for three to four hours.

"We were sprayed with tear gas inside the police truck for as many as two to three times. The police then took us to the Port Klang police station."

Eddie also complained of pains resulting from kicks to the chest and stomach, and that the left side of his ribs was swollen.

The police later kept him in the dark as to where he was being transferred to and whether charges were being made against him.

"I was not told of anything. All I wanted to do was to go to Klang to service my car. I guess I was just unlucky," he said.

The inquiry continues tomorrow at 9.30am at Suhakam headquarters in Menara Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur.