Selangor executive councillor Ronnie Liu has sought a court order to review and set aside a warrant of arrest under which police had picked him up yesterday.

Liu, who has been released on police bail of RM2,000, also asked the Shah Alam High Court for other orders and relief as the court deems fit. The application was filed at 3.15pm today.

The Pandamaran assemblyperson, in his affidavit, said that several police officers had arrested him yesterday, with a warrant issued by the Petaling Jaya Magistrate’s Court. He is now required to be present in the court on Monday.

ronnie liu shah alam court 131108 01 Liu said he was on his way to attend a state exco meeting at the time and had tried to negotiate with the officers to be allowed to report to the nearest police station or to the Puchong police station after the meeting. However, his request was denied.

He was arrested in connection with a report filed against him for allegedly obstructing Subang Jaya Municipal Council enforcement officers from carrying out their duties during an anti-vice raid on a hotel in Puchong last year.

Liu said he believes that the warrant of arrest was not proper or valid, as it was not endorsed or issued under the required law, since the accompanying Puchong police report 11813/07 was not attached.

Hence, he was seeking a revision from the High Court to set aside the warrant.

Liu also said it was not necessary for police to obtain the warrant as they are aware of his whereabouts and, furthermore, he is prepared to be present in court or police station.

Outside the court, Gobind said it was not necessary for police to be high-handed in arresting Liu before the state exco meeting.

“Liu is an elected representative and a state exco and it was unnecessary for the police to resort (to such action). They know his whereabouts and they could have called him any time to report to the police station.

“It was not necessary for a warrant of arrest to be issued as there was no evidence that Liu is trying to run from the authorities or abscond. I have filed this motion to seek an early hearing date.”

'Matter not academic'

Asked whether the application may be academic as Liu is expected to be charged on Monday, Gobind said there is no such thing because the police had not followed procedure when serving the warrant of arrest.

“Police should follow the proper procedures when they are seeking a warrant of arrest or in handing it to the person,” said Gobind.

“If (they don’t), we would not hesitate to challenge any wrongful procedure in the issuance of the warrant or (in arresting someone).”

ronnie liu and polis diraja malaysia police Gobind also questioned the manner in which Selangor police chief Khalid Abdul Razak had resorted to charging Liu (left) , given that the incident allegedly took place a year ago.

“Why did it take so long for them to complete investigations and why (do this) now after a year? If police are (handling) such a small case like this for so long, what about the big cases? Certainly, the public have lost confidence in the police.”

Liu had said yesterday that the police had merely identified themselves and held him by the arms to take him away.