FAC News - Wednesday, February 27, 2002 4:31 PM

THE ISA HABEAS CORPUS APPEAL HEARING – Day 3 – ISA detainees arrested because they are Keadilan members

The third day of the Habeas Corpus appeal hearing kicked off with the prosecution rebutting the allegation that the five Internal Security Act (ISA) detainees seeking to get their detention declared illegal were never told why they were arrested.

The prosecution said the detainees were told the reason of their arrest though they may not have been given any details of their “crimes” since the police are not obligated to inform them of the details other than that they are perceived to be a threat to national security.

The prosecution then read out the media announcement made by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) the first day of the arrest that clarified those arrested were members of the National Justice Party (Keadilan).

The judge then interjected and asked whether this meant they were arrested because they were Keadilan members as stated by the IGP. This caught the prosecution off-guard who replied that they were arrested because they were plotting to topple the government through the general elections and through street demonstrations (which, in Malaysia, is a crime).