Conduct of Police in the arrest of Anwar yesterday was most reprehensible
July 17, 2008
The reasons given by the Federal CID Chief, Bakri Zinin, as to why Anwar was arrested at his house one hour before the earlier agreed time of 2.00pm to show up at the police headquarters (IPK) is incredible. Bakri was reported in the media to have said that the police had “reason to believe†Anwar was not going to show up at the IPK because he was supposed to get to the headquarters immediately after giving his statement at the ACA in Putra Jaya but Anwar had changed his route and was heading to his house in Bukit Segambut.
The agreement with Bakri was for Anwar to show up at the headquarters at 2.00pm. There was however no agreement that Anwar would go to the IPK immediately after leaving ACA in Putra Jaya. Neither was there any agreement that he should take a particular route from Putra Jaya to IPK.
I accompanied Anwar together with two other lawyers to Putra Jaya yesterday morning. The car Anwar was traveling picked me up at the Royal Selangor Club, Mont Kiara at 9.30am. I parked my car at the Club. We arrived at the ACA at 10.00am. The other two lawyers and I were with Anwar when his statement was recorded by ACA. At about 11.45am Anwar informed the officers that he had a 2.00pm appointment at the IPK and asked to be excused and agreed to appear again at another date to continue for his statement to be recorded. The officer recorded this request in writing. We left Putra Jaya at about 12.00pm. Anwar was to drop me at the Selangor Club, Mont Kiara. The other two lawyers, Sankara Nair and Sivarasa, were to accompany him to the IPK for the 2.00pm appointment. I was dropped off at about 12.40pm. There was ample time for Anwar to go to his home, which was not far from Mont Kiara, and get to the IPK by 2.00pm. I then had a call about 1.00pm that Anwar was arrested at his house by a contingent of police officers. I was shocked.
In the light of the aforesaid facts how Bakri came to the conclusion that he “had reason to believe Anwar was not going to show up because he changed his route†is just beyond belief. If he relied on intelligence then the same police intelligence is seriously flawed which should be a serious concern to all Malaysians.
The IGP, Tan Sri Musa Hassan, is reported to have supported Bakri’s conduct. He was reported to have said that “the police knew what they are doing….â€Â Did they really know?
Home Minister, Datuk Syed Hamid Albar, condoned the conduct of Bakri. He was reported to have said that “It doesn’t matter when they arrested as they needed to have his statement…….â€. Obviously the Minister had no regard for the integrity of the conduct of police officers when carrying out investigations.
What happened yesterday was reminiscent to what happened at the aftermath of the assault on Anwar a decade ago on the night of Sept. 20, 1998 in Cell No. 6 on the ground floor of Bukit Aman. The conduct of a few senior police officers including a senior officer from the Attorney General’s Chambers in concealing and suppressing the truth about the brutal assault on Anwar by the then IGP, Rahim Noor, until the establishment of a Royal Commission of Inquiry in February 1999 is still in the minds of many.
Syed Hamid’s remarks yesterday were akin to Dr. Mahathir’s reckless public statement on September 30, 1998 that Anwar’s injuries could have been self-inflicted. Mahathir was then also the Home Minister.
Bakri’s conduct yesterday will be seen as a dangerous trend in how recklessly police could arrest someone on the basis of “reason to believe†without caring for the truth or falsity of the reason for belief. His conduct was reprehensible and should not be glossed over. It warrants investigation as such conduct brings disrepute to the Royal Malaysian Police.
The events yesterday and the massive jams in Kuala Lumpur three days ago with 1600 policemen deployed on the streets of Kuala Lumpur and vicinity and with Parliament House cordoned off with barbed wire portrayed Malaysia as being in a police State.
These events once again illustrate the urgent need for the government to implement the recommendation of the Royal Commission on the Police and establish an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) without delay.
Dato’ Param Cumaraswamy
Kuala Lumpur
Param (Dato’),
I’m sure whether you are a lawyer or not (not do I care or give a damn). The only think I wanted to know is that is the action taken by the police illegal? If it is illegal, legal action should be taken against the police.
Before police can arrest anyone, they need to obtain warrant of arrest. Did the police obtained any warrant of arrest? If they didn’t, legal cation should be taken against the police.
However if the police action is legal and they have obtained warrant of arrest before arresting DSAI, I think you better shut the hell up, co’s your statement is causing unnecessary tension among DSAI supports who do nit know nuts about police proccedings in term of arresting people for arrestable offence.
The Ritz
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AAB you are in the know of all this and you as the head of the present govt should not allow such injustices on a fellow citizen. You are the head not a follower. Please exert you authority and settle this issue once and for all. Do not allow others in subordinate positions of govt to overrule you and take over the govt. Remember DSAI is also a legitimate citizen and one who needs your support as he is not guilty but a victim of a plot. Come out and help your fellow man, AAB!!!!
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tindakan angota polis memakai topeng amat memalukan negara dimata dunia seolah2 negara ini dah jadi macam palestin.tindakan polis memakai topeng telah mencetuskan kemarahan rakyat malaysia.dunia memandang serius diatas penahanan dato sri anwar yang tidak boleh diragui, anwar cukup berpengaruh di mata negara negara kuasa2 besar walaupun anwar tidak berada didalam kerajaan sekarang.ini lah pemimpin yang rakyat malaysia mahukan,semoga dato sri akan jadi pm pada16 september kalau tidak menjadi kenyataan, rakyat akan bantu pada pilihan raya 13 untuk pakatan rakyat menerajui negara dan dato sri anwar ibrahim akan menjadi perdana menteri malaysia yang baru.dalam kes2 sekarang yang berlaku di negara kita, yang dipertuan agong kena masuk campur, jikalau umno membantah ini lah penderhaka besar kepada raja2.dan kebenaran akan muncul srip 1998 akan dapat siapkah dalang yng menjatuhkan anwar.saya syorkan dato sri mengadap yang dipertuan agong untuk menyelesaikan masalah yang dicipta umno ni.
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I am only worried by the amount of public funds wasted by the police just to arrest one man.Can somebody calculate the cost?.Public servants must be taught to do their job not only properly but at the cheapest possible means.It is our hard earned money that they are spending.That is only one glaring example.There are many other cases that happen every day before us.
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Good morning Datuk Sri,
Don’t let a repeat of the 1998 total fabricated accusation on Datuk Sri. We cannot afford to lose another leader for the future of M’sia. What happened in 1998 and Jun 6 1976 is still fresh in the minds of Sabahans. We Sabahans have longed for a central leader who can give Sabah and Sarawak due respect within the federations.
Take care Datuk Sri.
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to DSAI – lookout!!! It seemed that the AUTHOURITY had subscribed to be like Manmar Junta,placing you under house-arrest.Be more careful in your undertaking.May GOD bless and look after you.
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Hey guys,
DSAI is not a hardcore criminal. Why treated him one. PM AAB have said that he cannot ignore if someone pleads for JUSTICE.
So, the Police should have not ignore that word ‘JUSTICE’ in the first place. The CONDUCT of the so call Bakri and Syed Hamid is truely uncall for. They must make all Malaysians feel proud of them but wrongfully implemented an injustice way to tackle the situation.
We look at someone by his or her conduct. You have eyes, you judge yourselves. Put YOURSELVES IN THEIR SHOE. Are you happy with it?
Make it plain simple as possible. If thre’s a concrete evidence against DSAI then charge him to court.
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