AN arrest is not like in the old children’s game of police and thieves.

Remember the game and the rhyme that went with it?

It goes like this: “Police sentry/one, two, jaga/police mati/pencuri jaga”. 

An arrest must be done in accordance with the law, which provides for the power to, grounds for, and manner of, arrest. 

Matt Healy of the British band The 1975 was not arrested because he had left the country with the other band members in the early morning of Saturday, just six hours after his disrespectful antics on stage at the Good Vibes Festival. Police did not receive a report of his antics until 2pm the same day.

Healy could have been arrested like Ryan Bates, the US citizen who was nabbed by the police for carrying three empty bullet casings in his bag at the KLIA.

There was reasonable suspicion that Bates was concerned with the commission of a seizable offence – that is, there were grounds for an arrest under the law.

Similarly, there were lawful grounds for the arrest of caretaker Kedah menteri besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor. But was he handcuffed to embarrass him?

A report was lodged against Sanusi a day after the alleged offence occurred, followed by another from a member of the Selangor Royal Council on July 14. 

An investigation under the law ensued, which could have led to a lawful arrest and even remand, during investigation since Sanusi was concerned with a seizable offence and there was, at least, an incredible information for an arrest under section 23(1)(a) of the Criminal Procedure Code.

This is not a game of “police and thieves”.

Remember how a “thief” would have to be embraced to amount to a “catch”? That was perhaps the best part of the game. – July 26, 2023.

* Hafiz Hassan reads The Malaysian Insight.