On Jan 4, 19-year-old M Vijaya Varman returned to his house in Kuala Selangor after work as usual. But little did the teenager know that he was in for a harrowing experience that night.

At about 2am, the factory worker was awoken by several policemen and arrested in connection with the theft of electrical cables in the area.

In his report lodged with the Brickfields district police headquarters today, Vijaya claimed the seven policemen did not state the reasons or produce any warrant when they arrested him.

He said the policemen also ignored the pleas from his parents, who wanted to know why he was being detained.

"I was handcuffed and taken to a waiting white van," added the teenager in his report, a copy of which was made available to malaysiakini .

Following this, Vijaya's ordeal took a turn for the worse. He claimed that he was assaulted by three of the policemen as the van drove out of the residential area.

"The van later stopped near a pub in Pasir Penampang. They (the policemen) continued to beat me and ask me where my friends were who they accused of stealing the cables. They also urged me to admit to the theft," he alleged.

"After this, I was taken to another location and they continued to beat me. I was questioned about my motorcycle and who had used it on the day of the theft," he added.

Vijaya said the policemen took him to several locations during the four-hour terror ride before dropping him back home.

'Behaved like thugs'

In his report, the teenager asked why he was not taken to a police station for questioning. "Why didn't they follow proper procedure and behaved like thugs instead?" he added.

Vijaya was accompanied by Police Watch and Human Rights Committee secretary S Manikavasagam

Speaking to reporters later, he expressed disappointment over the manner in which the policemen had acted.

"They shouldn't act like gangsters, this is not according to law and procedure," he said.

Manikavasagam urged the Bukit Aman federal police headquarters to intervene and investigate the Kuala Selangor police for alleged abuse of power.

He also disclosed that a law suit could be filed against the Kuala Selangor police in relation to this incident.

"We want a justice for the family," he stressed.

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