Hindraf 5: habeas corpus applications rejected
Feb 26, 08 12:32pm
The Kuala Lumpur High Court today rejected the habeas corpus applications filed by five Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders held under the Internal Security Act (ISA).
Judge Zainal Azman Abdul Aziz told a packed courtroom that the detention order issued by the internal security minister was valid and met all the requirements under the ISA.
He said the court had taken into consideration the affidavits filed by the applicants and the affidavits filed in reply by the respondents, including the supporting affidavit by the minister.
However, he said there was nothing to show that the requirements were violated.
The judge also stated that based on previous cases, the minister could order a person to be detained under Section 8 of the ISA.
In their habeas corpus applications, the five stated that their detention was unlawful because of the vague grounds given for their arrest.
The five - P Uthayakumar, M Manoharan, T Vasantha Kumar, V Ganabatirau and R Kenghadharan were held on Dec 13 for allegedly organising an illegal assembly on Nov 25 and for making seditious statements against the government.
Disappointed with the judgment, some 300 Hindraf supporters outside the courtroom shouted Valga Hindraf (long live Hindraf) and Valga Makkal Sakthi (long live people’s power).
The detainees’ counsels Karpal Singh and his son Gobind Singh Deo told the crowd that an appeal would be filed with the Federal Court.
Gobind said while they respected the court’s decision, they were not happy with it and vowed to fight for justice till the end.
Source:
Malaysiakini
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