Muhyiddin denies LTTE-linked detainees tortured

(FMT) – Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has denied claims that five of the 12 suspects accused of having links to the Liberation of Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were tortured in detention.

Speaking to reporters after the Tanjung Piai by-election nominations, Muhyiddin said his checks with the inspector-general of police and officers involved in the detentions proved the claims were untrue.

“When they were brought out with their lawyers and faced the judge in his chambers, they did not make any complaint that they were beaten.”

Yesterday, five of the detainees claimed they had been mistreated, tortured and threatened while being detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 or Sosma.

Though Muhyiddin said he could not simply accept the allegations, he still asked the IGP to investigate them.

“If there are marks on their bodies, they can lodge a police report or report to any relevant parties for action to be taken.

“Don’t take action just because one or two said so and make assumptions. It must be investigated because these are serious accusations that I do not take lightly.”

Meanwhile, DAP’s Kota Melaka MP Khoo Poay Tiong, in a statement, said he will raise the alleged torture in the Dewan Rakyat next week during the Ministers’ Question Time.

“The minister must provide an explanation to Parliament, including what steps have been taken to correct the situation, so that the integrity of the police force is not further damaged.”

Khoo also claimed that the detainees have been “openly mistreated” as they were handcuffed and escorted by fully-armed policemen clad in balaclavas.

“Is this an attempt to stigmatise them as ‘terrorists’ in the eyes of the public?”

He also urged the home ministry and IGP to investigate the complaints of the detainees.