EO6 detention unjustified as Bersih rally over, court told

By Boo Su-Lyn

July 22, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, July 22 — Six Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM) members questioned their detention under the Emergency Ordinance (EO) 1969 as the Bersih rally is over, the High Court heard today.

PSM lawyer Sulaiman Abdullah pointed out that the six, including Sungai Siput MP Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj (picture), were detained on July 2 for allegedly being the prime movers of the July 9 rally.

“How do you justify the detention after July 9?” asked Sulaiman when submitting his arguments in a habeas corpus application.

“None of the (government’s) affidavits addressed that point,” said the former Bar Council president in a packed courtroom, where more than 70 people were standing in the aisles.