The key witness to the R Gunasegaran inquest, K Selvach Santhiran, was today transferred to the Batu Gajah detention camp, without being given a chance to meet his family members.Suaram coordinator E Nalini (right) said police had called Selvach's family members last night, saying they would bring him from the Bukit Jalil detention centre to the FT police headquarters in the morning where they could meet him, before they took him to Batu Gajah.When they arrived at 10am, she said Selvach was already gone.
"We are extremely disappointed in the manner the police had taken him away as we feel it is directed to make his habeas corpus application academic."What the police had done clearly violates the rights of the detainee and is also in contempt of court, as they do not respect the due process of law."The lawyer representing Selvach, Farida Mohammad, has not been able to meet him to prepare an affidavit in reply following the senior federal counsel's reply on the habeas corpus application.
"It looks like Farida may have to go to Batu Gajah to meet Selvach to get further instructions," said the Suaram coordinator.Nalini said the actions by the police seems to be directed at testing Selvach's credibility following his damning testimony that Guneasegaran was assaulted while under detention.
"It is directed to tarnish his image. Suaram is unhappy over the police action in sending Selvach to the detention camp as it is a clear violation of human rights in light of the habeas corpus application," she said, adding the whole process was mala fide.Nalini said she was there with lawyer Farida along with Selvach's wife S Saraswathy and two other family members.She added that her family members had prepared some food for Selvach and were disappointed they could not give it to him.However, they managed to talk to him on the phone.
Detained under DDA
Selvach, who had already been detained for 51 days under the Dangerous Drugs Act (Special Preventive Measures) 1985, is scheduled to have his habeas corpus application heard on Monday.Under the DDA's special preventive measures, a suspect can be detained without trial for up to 60 days. Upon the expiry of 60 days, the home minister is empowered to endorse a two-year extension which can be renewed indefinitely and cannot be challenged in court.
He had been detained since Oct 25, after the police picked him up at his home in a rough manner, as alleged by his family members and Saraswathy.Selvach's arrest comes after an open verdict in the Gunasegaran's inquest.
Source : http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/150764
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