Brothers claim police abuse while under remand

PETALING JAYA: The family members of two brothers arrested under the Prevention of Crime Act (Poca) want authorities to release the siblings.  

Vikram Naidu, 17, and Letchumanan Naidu, 19, were detained on April 14, eight days after five of their friends were arrested in Ipoh for allegedly being involved in a brawl. The five were later released.  

The brothers’ lawyer T. Shashi Devan said he was informed on Aug 10 that they were physically abused by the police during the first remand period that lasted for five days from April 14.  

“Their eyes were covered with duct tape," he claimed, adding that they even got their hair pulled and their bodies were burnt with lighter.  

He said the siblings were allegedly punched and were kicked by police with their safety shoes to make them sign a witness statement.    

“They were too afraid (to seek medical attention) so they endured the pain,” he told reporters here Friday.

The brothers were arrested on April 14 under 117 Criminal Procedure Code, which allows for a suspect to be detained for more than 24 hours.  

They were initially remanded for five days, and an extra three days, before they were released on April 22.  

However, on May 23, the siblings were detained under Poca for 21 days before getting a subsequent remand of an additional 38 days on June 10.   

On July 21, the Naidu brothers were sentenced to jail for two years, a sentence they are serving at the Kluang Rehabilitation Centre.  

Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) executive director Sevan Doraisamy urged Suhakam to look into the matter and requested the siblings to be released immediately.  

“Poca cannot be a tool for the police not to do a proper investigation.

“The case has to be investigated and there has to be enough evidence to charge them in court,” he lamented.   

The siblings' mother A. Packiam, 42, handed over a memorandum to the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) here on Friday.  

Suhakam commissioner Prof Datuk Dr Aishah Bidin sympathised with the situation faced by the family.  

She said she would look into the matter as well as the safety and welfare of the siblings.   

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar, when contacted, said the police would get to the bottom of the matter.  

“We will investigate and if true, action will be taken against my men.  

“Justice will be dealt without fear or favour,” he said.