A HUMAN rights movement wants the police to stop abusing the remand process by continuing to detain a group of 25 individuals who were first arrested on September 26 over a shooting in Banting.

Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) said it was concerned that the group are still under detention despite an order by the magistrates’ court for them to be released.

Suaram said some of these individuals were first detained at Kuala Langat police district headquarters on September 26 over an investigation of a shooting that took place in Banting the previous day.

“They were remanded for a total of 11 days for investigation. When they were supposed to be released, they were rearrested and taken to IPD Serdang for investigation of another offence that happened on March 1, 2018.

“At that point, a new remand order was obtained, and they were detained for an additional four days. On October 10 October, police from IPD Serdang applied for a remand extension but was rejected, and the police were instructed to release the detainees at 5pm.

“The police failed to comply with the instruction, and they were rearrested by IPD Jinjang for another investigation. Remand application by IPD Jinjang was rejected on October 11 with the magistrate instructing the police to release the detainees within 24 hours.

“The police failed to comply with the instruction again and rearrested them at IPD Putrajaya. Remand application was rejected again on October 12,” said Suaram executive director Sevan Doraisamy in a statement today.

He added that the family members of the detainees only discovered on October 14 that the individuals had then been detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma) by Selangor police.

But they were not charged after 28 days of detention under Sosma and rearrested for investigation under the Societies Act.

“On November 11, police application for further remand was rejected again, with the magistrate instructing the police to immediately release the detainees.

“The police did not comply with the instruction and have reportedly placed all the detainees under the Prevention of Crime Act.”

Sevan said there is no excuse for the police to repeatedly arrest and rearrest these individuals, especially when the magistrates’ court has clearly rejected further attempts of remand.

He also said this case highlighted the immediate need for the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC), which can address police abuses.

Meanwhile, Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director Huzir Mohamed said the individuals are part of a gang known as Geng TCB 21, which were involved in attempted murder, firing guns in riot, armed robbery and arson involving vehicles and machinery.

He added that while the police have insufficient evidence to prosecute them, they have enough material to detain them under the Prevention of Crime Act.

“As such, on November 12, police have detained 25 of them under this Act to ensure public safety, and to curtail the activities of this gang,” he said in a statement today. – November 13, 2020.