29 including six women held over rally

KUALA LUMPUR: Police arrested 29 people, some as young as 14, over the #TangkapNajib rally in front of the Sogo shopping centre.

The detainees, now being held at the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters in Jalan Hang Tuah, face charges under Section 143 of the Penal Code for taking part in an unlawful assembly. It carries a maximum jail sentence of 20 years.

They were also being investigated for allegedly taking part in “activities detrimental to parliamentary democracy”, said police.

KL police chief Comm Datuk Tajuddin Md Isa said police arrested the 23 men and six women, the oldest being 69.

“Those arrested will be brought to court to be remanded to help in investigation,” he said in a statement here yesterday. “The police have acted professionally and in accordance with the law in dealing with the rally.”

Outside the KL police headquarters, lawyers of the detainees argued with officers, claiming that they were not allowed access to their clients.

Strength in numbers: A rally gaining momentum near Sogo.

 

“The arrests are politically motivated,” Eric Paulsen, representing the detainees, said.

“All Malaysians have a right to peaceful assembly.

“It is a serious exaggeration to claim that their activities were unlawful assembly or worse, detrimental to parliamentary democracy.”

The dragnet follows the arrest of four activists – Adam Adli, Suaram coordinator Syukri Razab, Bersih 2.0 secretariat member Mandeep Singh and Hishamuddin Rais – over statements they made at a press conference to announce the rally.