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Early arrest surprises Bar Council chairman PDF Print E-mail
Thursday, 17 July 2008 08:44am

Early arrest surprises Bar Council chairman Criminal or political?

©The Star (Used by permission)

CID chief explains why Anwar was arrested earlier

PETALING JAYA: The Bar Council said there was no reason to believe that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim would not show up at the police headquarters to give his statement at the appointed time.

Its chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenivasan said: “We are particularly surprised (about the early arrest) as he had been given until 2pm to show up at the police headquarters.”

“Furthermore, he had been at the ACA office in Putrajaya all morning.”

She said the council hoped there would be no repeat of 1998 when Anwar was tried on allegations of sodomy.

“Our criminal justice system is once again under public scrutiny and we hope that it can stand up to that scrutiny,” she said.


CID chief explains why Anwar was arrested earlier

KUALA LUMPUR: Police arrested Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim an hour before the 2pm deadline as they feared that he would not show up.

Federal CID director Commissioner Datuk Mohd Bakri Zinin said Anwar was supposed to go directly to the Kuala Lumpur headquarters immediately after giving his statement to the ACA in Putrajaya.

“However, we were informed that after he left the ACA headquarters in Putrajaya he re-routed and headed back to his house in Segambut,” he said.

“He was arrested as we had reason to believe that he was not going to show up at the KL police headquarters,” he said.

Anwar, who had left the ACA headquarters at 12.20pm, was arrested for investigation under Section 377C of the Penal Code for carnal intercourse against the order of nature.

He was there from 10am yesterday in connection with reports he had lodged against the Inspector-General of Police and the Attorney-General.

Comm Bakri said police arrested him near his house as they wanted to avoid any untoward incident or commotion had they arrested him at his house.

“We wish to point out that Anwar had initially agreed to meet us on Monday but he failed to keep his appointment,” he said.

Anwar will be taken to the hospital here for a routine check-up which was a required procedure, Comm Bakri added.

He said that besides the check-up for record purposes, the police had also extended other facilities including allowing his family members and lawyers to visit him.

“He is also allowed to go for his prayers. We will accord whatever facility the law allows ... that we can assure.

Comments (5)Add Comment
Reason to believe
written by Yeo Yang Poh, July 17, 2008

“He was arrested as we had reason to believe that he was not going to show up at the KL police headquarters.” What a powerful argument. There is no need to even say what the reason might be. It is comfort enough for us ordinary citizens that someone said he had a reason.

The same way another person might be detained under ISA because someone "has a reason to believe that he is a terrorist, or at least going to become one".

But the current use of this impeccable logic seems unduly restricted. It could benefit the nation much more if its use is expanded. For example, a Minister could be imprisoned if someone "has reason to believe he is corrupt", or, better still, if someone "has reason to believe that, though he is not yet corrupt, he is going to become corrupt". Spare us the details, for we ordinary citizens are too busy making ends meet to want to know. It is enough if someone has a reason.

Only then may we hope to become a nation of strong faith.

Yeo Yang Poh

P/S: Only postings supporting and praising this posting should be published. No posting questioning or arguing against the above should be sent to the webmaster, and, if sent, should be disregarded. I have reason to believe that I am absolutely right.

following the procedures or breaching the procedures?
written by Tong Kuan Ling, July 17, 2008

I thought the police had inevitably told the public that they would follow the procedures? - correct me if I'm wrong.

However, before anyone could breach any law/procedure, the honourable law enforcement officer in Malaysia, the Police, has breached the governing procedures/laws by arresting the so called "accused".

Is there any legal proceeding or disciplinary action to be initiated against the said Police for the said breach of procedures by themselves instead?

If the PDRM can't obey the laws/procedures in Malaysia, how are they going to enforce any law?

The explanation given is totally rediculous and unacceptable.

Tong Kuan Ling

ANWAR FREED ON POLICE BAIL
written by Stephen Tan Ban Cheng, July 17, 2008

Well, believe it or not, Anwar has been freed on police bail, according to a malaysiakini report.

I have restrained myself from making a comment. Now it comes...

In the first place, why make the arrest before the 2pm deadline mutually agreed upon? Reason? Reasonable? Reasonableness?

Read "Voltaire's Bastards." The book includes the monstrosity of McNamara's reasonableness that led to the Vietnam War, which remains an undeclared war as far as the United States is concerned.

Mind you, one of the immediate results of the Vietnam War was America's forced exit from the Gold Standard. Thirty-eight years after the war ended in 1975, the entire world is still paying the price in terms of a world financial order that is almost in chaos!

Stephen Tan Ban Cheng

Afghanistan & Iraq Revisited – the BN Approach
written by Subasini Muniandy, July 17, 2008

The past has shown us time and time again that the Malaysian government thinks that the general public is so naive and/or gullible that we believe every piece of info that they spew our way. I think March 8 has proven otherwise and the powers that be should seriously re-think about using the Malaysian police as their personal ‘boys’ when the police are there to protect and serve the public and NOT to help the powers that be, achieve their personal agendas. The unwarranted road blocks on Monday being one of the matters on point.

With the benefit of hindsight, it seems that the USA justified the attacks on Afghanistan and Iraq based on assumptions. That is what the Malaysian police is doing now – justifying their high handedness with assumptions. Anwar’s appointment was at 2 pm – he may have gone back home (not his house but his home) for many reasons.

I agree with Mr Yeoh Yang Poh – I shudder to think about the state of our country if this is the manner in which the laws of this country are to being manipulated to suit the powers that be.

Subasini Muniandy

Efficiency At Its Worst
written by Abdul Fareed Bin Abdul Gafoor, July 18, 2008

The Anwar Ibrahim’s arrest episode reflects the hallmark of the efficiency of the PDRM, demonstrating how swiftly the police can swing into action in arresting a crime suspect, with 15 patrol cars (despite increase in petrol price) and balaclava include, albeit the offence is rather minor compared to other arrestable offences.

In fact, PDRM should share their knowledge in efficiency with all other law enforcers worldwide to enable them to take criminals off our societies and make the world a safer place for everyone. It would be a glaring showcase of Malaysia Boleh which can even attract foreign tourists.

But on the hindsight on the other hand, it demonstrates how foolhardy they can be with their obsession of Anwar Ibrahim.

Firstly, he was asked to report to them on the black Monday, the day when KL traffic system when kaput due to unnecessary roadblock, when they themselves obtained a court order to restraint Anwar and others from approaching 5km radius from Parliament, when both Anwar’s home and the IPK is within that radius.

Can I ask the Deputy IGP and CID Chief how is one to comply with the first order by not running foul of the second one?

I wish not to deal into the episodes subsequent to the above as its just complete waste of time in discussing stupidity and irrational acts.


However, in discussing about PDRM’s efficiency, I recall some 10 years ago when my client’s trailer laden with scrap material was highjacked by its own driver when it did not reach its destination and the driver failed to report to duty the following day. Police report was lodged the same day at the PJ IPD. Nothing came out of it for a month and I was asked by my client to accompany then to see the OCPD. We cried our hearts out and swift action was promised despite reminding us there are too many serious cases for them to solve. We provided all the details of the suspect, but despite repeated reminders, no one was even called for questioning!

Maybe its high time for the PDRM guy to undergo training in efficiency under their KL counterpart!

Abdul Fareed Bin Abdul Gafoor


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