Lawyer N Surendran will have to report to the Putrajaya district police headquarters tomorrow to have his statement recorded over a comment he made about the police.

hindraf probed by police 141008 surendran Surendran made the remark at the Kajang Magistrate’s Court during the remand proceedings of 10 individuals arrested in front of the Prime Minister’s Office on Oct 23.

Detainee Lourdes Mary, who has diabetes, fainted while Surendran was addressing the magistrate. She had allegedly been unable to obtain insulin during her 24-hour detention period.

This prompted Surendran, who was representing the 10, to tell the magistrate that the police had been “negligent”.

Immediately after the proceedings, a police officer approached him [see the video] to record a statement but Surendran requested a postponement.

‘Don’t harass lawyers’

Contacted today, Surendran said that it was “very strange” that he is being investigated for a statement made in open court.

“I told the magistrate that the police were negligent about the detainee who fainted in court. This kind of statement should (have immunity),” said the human rights lawyer.

Surendran said he was merely acting on the instructions of his clients and that the police action appears to be a form of harassment.

ragunath kesavan bar council pc 080808 01 Bar Council deputy president K Ragunath (left) said the police should not intimidate or harass lawyers in performing their duties.

“If a lawyer misbehaves in court, it is up to the court to take action. There is no need for the police to act or record statements,” he said.

He recalled that the last time a lawyer had been investigated by the police under similar circumstances, it had involved senior counsel Karpal Singh during the Anwar Ibrahim trials 10 years ago.

Karpal was subject to a sedition charge after he had told the courts that Anwar had been poisoned with arsenic while in detention. The charge was later withdrawn.