Sosma detainees claim they were tortured while under remand

Sungai Buloh Prison.

KUALA LUMPUR: Seven persons charged under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) have revealed the abusive treatment they have received while in remand in Sungai Buloh Prison and Bukit Aman.

The identities of the seven were not exposed by Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) and lawyers of the detainees as they disclosed the maltreatment actions while demanding the Government to establish a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the use of torture in the country during a press conference at the KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall on Monday.

In written testimony handed to Suaram, the detainees claimed to have been stripped naked, forced to watch pornography on the police's handphone and masturbate in front of the officers, getting beaten and stepped on.

One of the seven said he was forced to pronounce talak (divorce) and that an investigator intimidated him to separate his baby from his wife and drive her out of the country to be a prostitute.

Another alleged in his letter that he was hit in the stomach, slapped in the face and kicked numerous times.

The victim also claimed that he was made to sign a statement and admit to things he never did.

Suaram executive director Sevan Doraisamy strongly condemned the use of all forms of torture as it contravened recognised international human rights principle and laws.

"The possibility that the Government of Malaysia is unofficially or inadvertently complicit in the use of torture must be investigated and ascertained," he said in a statement.

"The reports by the lawyers and Sosma detainees make it clear that the use of torture is not a relic of the past but a tool of the present!"

He called upon the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) and the Enforcement Agencies Integrity Commission (EAIC) to conduct immediate investigations into the alleged use of torture by the authorities.

Sevan added that for the use of torture to be put to an end, laws such as Sosma, Prevention of Crime Act 1959 (Poca), Prevention of Terrorism Act 2015 (Pota) and Dangerous Drugs (Special Preventive Measures) Act 1985 (DDA) that gives room for torture must be abolished.

He also demanded that the Government sign and ratify the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment Punishment (UNCAT).

"Failure to do so would imply that the Government of Malaysia officially condones and uphold the use of torture in Malaysia contrary to its obligations under international human rights and international law."