The police today interviewed Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders for more than an hour at the Dang Wangi police headquarters - over them showing up at the prime minister’s ‘open house’ on Oct 1.

hindraf probed by police 141008 k shanti K Shanthi (left) , the wife of Hindraf chairperson P Waythamoorthy, Hindraf information chief S Jayathas and Selangor coordinator K Tamilselvam were interrogated today for illegal assembly under Section 27 (5) of the Police Act, as well as trespass under Section 447 of the Penal Code.

Hindraf’s event coordinator R Kannan was summoned to the police station last week however he was excluded from today’s interview.

According to their lawyer N Surendran notices were faxed to them last week by police officer Sydney Clyde Jeremiah.

hindraf probed by police 141008 surendran “There is only one way to describe the investigations and offences suggested; they are absurd, ridiculous and the most silly exercise and abuse of police powers that we have heard of so far,” said Surendran before the interrogation.

“This is a blatant example of a politically motivated investigation into citizens… this is why we have to look into reform of the police force because they are clearly being used by government leaders,” he said.

Surendran also described the investigation as “intimidation, harassment and another chapter in the continuing political persecution of the Hindraf movement which is doing nothing but fighting for marginalised Malaysian citizens”.

Line of questioning

Surendran - who accompanied the Hindraf activists during the one hour session - said they were “very surprised” by the line of questioning.

“The questions seem to be geared into suggesting that going to the open house was not the right thing to do… we were shocked because we were under the impression that the Malaysian police force is being paid by the tax payers to investigate real crimes,” said Surendran.

Moreover, he said that the police were “acting like the moral police” as the line of questions trailed on the appropriateness of attending an ‘open house’.

He continued to slam that the police were “taking the cue from government officials” and for unjustifiably reacting against Hindraf.

hindraf probed by police 141008 03 Latheefa Koya, the other accompanying lawyer expressed that the line of questioning was an “insult to their intelligence”.

She said that all three exercised their right remain silent during the session as stipulated under Section 112 (2) of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Latheefa revealed that the investigation was based on a report lodged by a police officer who was on duty during the ‘open house’ incident.

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