May 01, 2012
PKR vice-president N. Surendran told The Malaysian Insider that Rasah PKR deputy chief R. Thangam was arrested at his home in Seremban last night by a team of some 20 officers.
He said magistrate Azmil Muntapha Abas had agreed to grant a
three-day remand order this afternoon, instead of the seven days applied
by the police, on grounds that the matter was "in public interest".
"This was after he heard my arguments... I objected because there was
no basis for Thangam's arrest," he said, when contacted shortly after
emerging from the remand hearing.
Surendran said Thangam is being investigated under Section 440 of the Penal Code.
Section 440(a) states: "Whoever commits mischief while taking part in
an unlawful assembly or in a riot shall be punished with imprisonment
which may extend to five years, and shall also be liable to a fine".
Surendran condemned Thangam's arrest, insisting that the move was
clearly a "propaganda attempt" to portray Pakatan Rakyat (PR) as the
aggressors in Bersih 3.0, which had resulted in violence at about 3pm
last Saturday,
He pointed out that despite numerous video evidence showing the
police attacking protesters and even newsmen, no action has been taken
against them.
"No action has been taken against those seen assaulting and arresting journalists," he said.
Surendran however admitted that he was not aware if Thangam had
indeed been the first to breach the barricades surrounding Dataran
Merdeka, which was believed to have sparked off the ensuring violence.
Dataran Merdeka had been cordoned off to protesters on Saturday
following a court order obtained by police to bar any individual from
staging the protest within the iconic square.
But when the barriers were first breached, riot police immediately
took up their offensive stance and began firing tear gas canisters and
water cannons to disperse protesters, even past Dataran Merdeka.
"I do not know if Thangam was at all involved but from the remand
hearing just now, it was clear they have no evidence against him.
"He committed no assault or criminal act. He is innocent and his arrest was baseless," said Surendran.
He urged the Inspector-General of Police to call for Thangam's immediate release.
Reports have pointed to speculation that an Indian man, believed to
be a Negeri Sembilan PKR leader, was the first to breach the police
barricades, following confusion over orders to do so allegedly made by
PKR's two top leaders Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Azmin Ali.But both men have vehemently denied the claims.
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