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Anwar Ibrahim Arrested: At Risk of Police Abuse of Powers

Suaram strongly condemns the high-handedness and the excessive show of powers by the police in arresting People Justice Party (PKR) de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim at his house in Bukit Segamat, Kuala Lumpur at about 1pm today.

According to his eldest daughter Nurul Izzah, the arrest was made by a contingent of special police squad with balaclava and leather jacket. Anwar was reportedly driven away in a 4WD vehicle with tinted windows, escorted by a convoy of 15 patrol cars. It was reminiscent of the forces sent to arrest Anwar Ibrahim at his home in September 1998.
Anwar was on his way home from the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) after giving a statement today pertaining to the police report that was filed by him regarding the suppression of material facts in the case involving him in 1998.

Background of arrest

Yesterday (15 July 2008), the police gave Anwar an ultimatum to be present at the Kuala Lumpur Police Contingent Headquarters (IPL Kuala Lumpur) at 2pm, to be questioned over the allegations of sodomy against him by a former aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan. The police had warned that failure to do so would result in the possibility of arrest.

Despite having agreed to show up, the police arrested Anwar Ibrahim at 1pm today, before the ultimatum ended.

According to Federal Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director Bakri Zinin, the police was worried that Anwar Ibrahim would not show up at the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters by 2pm and therefore decided to arrest him.

This arrest was clearly an unjustified preventive arrest and a shameful tactic to intimidate Anwar and his family.Anwar Ibrahim was arrested in 1998 and despite the assurance of the national police chief, Rahim Noor that Anwar was safe in police custody, Anwar was produced in court several days after with a black eye and severe injury of his spine. The assault was committed by none other than the national police chief himself.

Please send letters to the Prime Minister and the Inspector-General of Police to express your concerns for the wellbeing and physical integrity of Anwar Ibrahim and condemn the police for abuse of powers and high-handedness in the arrest.

We urge you to protest to the Malaysian government and call on the Malaysian government to ensure:
· the safety and physical integrity of Anwar Ibrahim while under police
custody
· an impartial, free and fair investigation on the allegations against Anwar
Ibrahim.
· bail is allowed to be posted if he is charged with the allegations

Your letters should send to:
1. Tan Sri Musa Hassan
Inspector-General of Police
Ibu Pejabat Polis Diraja Malaysia
Bukit Aman
50560 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: +603 2262 6222
Fax: +603 2273 9602

2. Dato’ Seri Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi
Prime Minister and Minister of Internal Security
Prime Minister’s Office Malaysia
Perdana Putra Building,
Federal Government Administrative Centre,
62502 PUTRAJAYA,
Selangor, Malaysia.
Tel: + 60 3 8888 6000
Fax: + 60 3 8888 3444

Cc:
1. Ibu Pejabat Polis Kontinjen Kuala Lumpur
Polis Diraja Malaysia
Jalan Hang Tuah
51100 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-21460522, 03-2485522
Faks: 03-20726786
CPO: Datuk Zul Hasnan Najib Baharudin

2. Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM)
Tingkat 29, Menara Tun Razak Jalan Raja Laut 50350Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-26125600 Fax: 03-26125620
Chaiman: Tan Sri Abu Talib Othman

For further information, please contact SUARAM at Tel: 03-77843525 or Fax:
03-77843526 or Email to us at sua…@suaram.net <suaram%40suaram.net>

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SAMPLE LETTER
[Letterhead of organisation]
16 July 2008
Tan Sri Musa Hassan
Inspector-General of Police
Ibu Pejabat Polis Diraja Malaysia
Bukit Aman
50560 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: +603 2262 6222
Fax: +603 2273 9602

Dear Sir,
Arrest of Anwar Ibrahim before the end of ultimatum a disregard for the rule of law

We are writing to you to register our strongest condemnation and protestagainst the arrest of Anwar Ibrahim at 1pm today. The arrest was made before the ultimatum given by the police to Anwar to give his police statement at Kuala Lumpur Police Contingent Headquarters by 2 pm today and despite the fact that Anwar had agreed to show up at the police headquarters.
According to Federal CID director Bakri Zinin, the police was worried that Anwar Ibrahim would not show up at the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters by 2pm and therefore decided to arrest him. This arrest was clearly an unjustified preventive arrest.

We are also gravely concerned about the need to deploy a contingent of special police squad with balaclava in the arrest.

We view this as an unnecessary show of force, an act of intimidation and abuse of powers by the police. We demand that the police conduct the investigation of the allegations against Anwar in a free and fair manner.

Thank you for your attention.
Sincerely yours,
[Name]