Seven arrested in Bersih office raid

(The Malaysian Insider) – Police have confirmed that seven Bersih volunteers detained during this afternoon’s raid on the election watchdog’s secretariat office in Petaling Jaya are now in remand.

Federal CID chief Datuk Seri Mohd Bakri Zinin said that one Malay man, one Chinese man, one Malay woman, two Chinese women and two Indian women had been detained to help with investigations.

He, however, declined to specify the legal provision under which the seven were being investigated.

The volunteers are understood to be staff members from women’s rights group Empower, which is part of the Bersih coalition for free and fair elections.

Bakri added that 314 yellow, 90 orange, 136 cream Bersih T-shirts and banners were also seized during the noon raid carried out by some 20 policemen, at least one of whom was armed with an assault rifle.

Selangor Chief Police Officer (CPO) Datuk Tun Hisan Tun Hamzah had earlier said that the police had obtained information that illegal activities were taking place in the house, adding that the tip-off appeared to be accurate.

Lawyer Honey Tan, representing Empower, said the police were investigating the workers under the Printing Presses and Publication Act (PPPA) and for planning an illegal assembly under the Police Act.

Bersih had earlier said that no search warrant was issued prior to the raid and that the police threatened to cut the locks to the office.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein earlier today declared the Bersih T-shirts illegal over links with the unsanctioned July 9 rally.

Bersih began an online campaign this afternoon asking those with Facebook and Twitter social network accounts to paint the Internet yellow with icons and badges in that colour.