Suaram raises plight of 32 Sosma detainees to Suhakam

Summary

• Human rights NGO Suaram raises the alleged ill-treatment of 32 Sosma detainees, including being denied medical attention despite health issues, in a meeting with Suhakam today.

• A detainee’s family member also complains of delays to their trial, saying they should be charged and given bail if there is proof instead of being detained under Sosma.

• Suhakam promises to visit Sungai Buloh Prison and look into the condition of the detainees.

Human rights group Suaram today held a meeting with Suhakam over the plight of 32 alleged gang members who have been denied bail since last year.

Held at Suhakam headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, the group raised concerns over authorities’ alleged ill-treatment of the suspects, who are currently being held under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) pending trial.

According to Suaram programme manager Azura Nasron, authorities kept rejecting the detainees’ applications for bail despite some of them already in their 50s and having health issues that required medical attention.

She also claimed that the detainees were beaten up by police investigators during questioning.

“About six of the detainees are in poor health, including a heart patient in his 50s. There is also a detainee who needs to use a wheelchair.

“So far, the issue they are facing in Sungai Buloh Prison is their health condition. The prison had promised to bring some of them for treatment (at the hospital) but this has not happened.

“They were denied bail (despite having health issues), but at the same time, the prison authorities are not doing much to help the detainees.

“We hope that Suhakam can, on top of paying a visit to the Sungai Buloh Prison where the detainees are being held, also push the MPs into bringing up this issue (with the government),” Azura said, adding that Suaram is representing the family of all 32 detainees in the complaint to Suhakam.

According to Suaram’s complaint letter, the 32 suspects were arrested by police between May and September last year over suspicion of involvement in an organised crime group called Geng TR.

All were then charged under Section 130V(I) of the Penal Code and Sosma. They were not offered bail as Section 13 of Sosma states that bail shall not be granted to those charged under the law.

‘Just charge if you have evidence’

Besides health issues, Suaram also expressed hope that Suhakam could help raise the issue to ensure a speedy trial for the detainees.

This comes as the group learned that their trial would allegedly begin in 2028.

A family member, 49-year-old M Logesvaran, criticised authorities’ decision to invoke Sosma, saying that it does not only affect the detainees but also their family members.

“If police really have enough evidence, just charge them in court and allow them bail. That is all we ask.

“Like in my brother’s case, he is a heart patient. But still, he was not allowed bail. And worse, the trial is being dragged on and on, every time there is a new date for case management.

“Recently, the case was postponed just because one out of 32 suspects did not have a lawyer to represent him. We are very upset with this,” he said.

Following the meeting, Suhakam officials including commissioner Mariati Robert promised to investigate the matter and check on the detainees’ condition at the Sungai Buloh Prison.

“For now, we have asked Suaram to provide more details on the 32 detainees, including their names and what health issues they have.

“We will look into their human rights, especially the complaint about health treatment, and also on the issue about the duration of their trial,” Mariati told reporters.

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