Magistrate rejects police request for remand on PSM leader
(The Malaysian Insider) – Parti Sosialis Malaysia(PSM) secretary-general S. Arutchelvan will be released today after a magistrate rejected police’s request to remand him for investigations under the Sedition Act.
His lawyer, Latheefa Koya, said magistrate Muslina Mohd Jamil rejected the application by police after hearing arguments by her and four others on his arrest.
“Police requested for four days remand but we argued they could record his statement without having to remand him.
“We also argued that if the remand application was granted, it would look like police were abusing their powers.
“Furthermore, as a public figure, Arutchelvan will give his full cooperation. After hearing our argument, the magistrate rejected the remand application,” Latheefa said.
She said police have until 7pm today to release Arutchelvan as they are only allowed to hold a detainee 24 hours without remand.
Latheefa added that five lawyers were at the Dang Wang police headquarters today to represent Arutchelvan. Apart from her, former Bar Council president and activist Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan and lawyer Syahredzan Johan were also present.
Arutchelvan was detained at his house in Kajang yesterday evening and taken to Dang Wangi for investigations into statements he allegedly made on the Federal Court verdict on Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s sodomy charge, last week.
Police also seized his personal computer and other electronic equipment which may have been used by Arutchelvan in posting the allegedly “seditious” statements on Facebook.
