Seven protestors arrested for participating in an anti-ISA peaceful assembly in Georgetown, Penang on May 11 are crying foul over an extension of their police bail rather than their release.

The group’s spokesperson, BK Ong said this was an abuse of power and against police procedures. Ong - who is also on the twice-extended bail - wants the police to stop wasting public resources.

“The police should either charge the seven of us in court or release us unconditionally without needing to extend the police bail order,” he said.

penang transportation 191206 ong boon keong organic The police, when contacted, said the extension of the bail until June 10 was done in accordance to police investigation procedures.

The group was released on two-weeks bail in stages on May 11 and May 12. On May 23, however, they were told their bail had been extended by another week.

On May 29, however, they were told that their bail was to be extended yet again by another two weeks. Their case is currently classified as illegal assembly under Section 27 of the Police Act 1976.

The seven then lodged reports at the Jalan Patani police station last Friday alleging police mishandling of their case.

‘Probe completed’

The anti-ISA gathering the seven participated in was part of a nationwide protest to urge the government to release all ISA detainees as well as grant Hindraf legal adviser P Uthayakumar proper medical treatment.

The Internal Securities Act (ISA) has been a bone of contention between human rights activists and the government for decades. The act - almost 48 years old - was inherited from the British rulers and initially used to deal with communist insurgents. It allows for lengthy detention without trial. Five leaders of Hindraf are currently incarcerated using this law.

isa unknowns Ong was critical of police procrastination in investigating his case and suggested the authorities were using scare tactics to hinder the anti-ISA struggle.

However, George Town OCPD ACP Azam Abd Hamid defended the police investigation process. The investigating officer had completed his probe and the report was now with the attorney-general’s chambers for further action, he said.

Azam added that police would act based on the AG’s Chambers decision on whether to charge the seven or not.

Commotion allegation

Besides Ong, 48, the others on bail are K Satish Kumar, 23, B Vimal, 21, M Suparamaniam, 21, K Sudhagaran Stanley, 23 and Lau Shu Shi and The Chun Hong, both 25.

The individuals were rounded-up after police moved in to disperse their assembly. Ong and Satish were detained at a nearby shopping complex while the others were arrested when they turned up at a police station to lodge police reports against police action in breaking-up the peaceful assembly.

The seven were released after more than 10 hours of questioning with the exception of Lau and The who were detained 24 hours for further questioning allegedly for causing a commotion at a police station.

Lau and The have lodged police reports over the incident and a senior police officer is being investigated by the force’s internal disciplinary board.

“It’s a shame that the home minister has not heeded to the Penang government’s call to issue public apology over the incident,” said Ong.