Cops release student activists arrested over Sabah anti-graft rally

Summary

• Police have released three student activists whom they arrested earlier today to facilitate probes into the Gempur Rasuah Sabah 2.0 rally in Kota Kinabalu.

• Student activist Fadhil Kasim condemns the police and the government for investigating them under the Sedition Act.

• The trio were told to meet investigating officers again this Thursday for another round of questioning.

Three Sabah student activists who were arrested earlier today over the Gempur Rasuah Sabah 2.0 rally have been released on police bail.

The trio - Fadhil Kasim, Aliff Danial Badrul Akmal Hisham, and Sabir Syarafuddin - walked out of the Kota Kinabalu district police headquarters about 7.50pm.

Speaking to the press after their release, Fadhil said the police are investigating them under Section 509 of the Penal Code, which deals with offences related to insulting the modesty of a person, and Section 4 of the Sedition Act.

He expressed disappointment over the police’s decision to invoke the Sedition Act, pointing out that it was a draconian law which the people in power today had fought against.

“The Sedition Act is still in use during this era of the Madani government.

“All these while, the Madani leaders were the ones who condemned the Sedition Act, but now the law is being used against UMS students and alumni, during an era when Anwar Ibrahim is the prime minister,” Fadhil said during the press conference aired live on Suara Mahasiswa UMS’ Facebook page.

According to the activist, after providing their respective statements as required under Section 112 of the Criminal Procedure Code, they were taken to another room for further questioning.

Fadhil claimed that a police officer, allegedly from Bukit Aman, had wanted to record an “intelligent statement” from the trio.

They, however, refused to do so after receiving advice from a lawyer.

‘Surrounded by 10 cops’

During the conference, Fadhil also criticised the police over their alleged heavy-handed tactics when arresting the activists.

Fadhil said he went to the district police headquarters to facilitate an investigation into an acid attack that damaged several cars during the rally over the weekend.

However, he and Aliff were instead surrounded by more than 10 officers and arrested in connection with the protest.

The UMS student claimed that a plainclothes police officer had also slammed his hand during a heated argument.

Fadhil said he immediately asked several police forensics officers who were nearby to be his witnesses to the alleged attack.

“However, they told me that they were doing their work and did not see what happened,” he said.

According to Fadhil, they will have to return to the district police headquarters this Thursday for another round of questioning.

He also thanked those who supported and voiced solidarity with them.

“We will never surrender to those who are intoxicated by power,” Fadhil said.

It was reported that police earlier today arrested Fadhil, Aliff, and Sabir over the anti-corruption rally.

Fadhil and Kasim were involved in torching a banner with a caricature of Anwar during the protest, while Sabir did not participate in the burning.

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