Summary

  • Jelutong MP RSN Rayer urges the Home Ministry and Attorney-General’s Chambers to drop a pending “trespass” charge against two Suaram activists and another unnamed individual.

  • He says despite not being given a security pass, the duo and others were asked to enter the Home Ministry to attend a meeting with ministry officials.

  • Suaram says in an update that the charges have been postponed as the matter is being referred back to the authorities.

Jelutong MP RSN Rayer appealed for the Home Ministry and Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) to drop expected charges against two Suaram activists and another unnamed individual.

The three, who are expected to be charged in court tomorrow, were accused of trespassing at the Home Ministry in Putrajaya, which is designated as a protected area.

Speaking to reporters in Parliament today, Rayer (above) said he contacted the duo - Suaram executive director Sevan Doraisamy and Suaram programme officer Azura Nasron - over the Feb 10 incident.

That day, Sevan and Azura accompanied family members of 32 Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) detainees to meet Home Ministry officials.

“As a backbencher who often speaks up on rights issues, I humbly plead with the Home Ministry and AGC to review the planned charge against the Suaram duo (and one other) in court tomorrow.

“Suaram was (previously) requested to go to the Home Ministry where they waited for several hours.

Suaram executive director Sevan Doraisamy

“Even though they did not have a pass (to enter), they were eventually asked to enter (the ministry) where a meeting was held and they submitted a memorandum.

“So my request is that, if possible, this case is investigated further based on the fact that their memorandum was accepted (inside the ministry),” said Rayer.

It was reported that Sevan, Azura, and one other will be charged tomorrow at the Putrajaya Magistrate’s Court under Section 5 of the Protected Areas and Protected Places Act 1959 (Act 298), which carries a penalty of up to two years imprisonment, a fine of up to RM1,000, or both.

Sevan and Azura, together with family members of Sosma detainees, previously demanded a meeting with Home Ministry representatives to discuss the well-being of Sungai Buloh prison detainees who launched a hunger strike on Feb 8.

According to a Suaram Facebook post on the event, the Home Ministry allowed six people to represent the group and enter the ministry’s building, where they met with an aide to Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

In an update this evening, Suaram said it received a call from the investigating officer informing them that tomorrow’s charge has been postponed to an unspecified date.

This is reportedly to allow the matter to be referred back to the authorities.

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