15 Black 505 flashmobbers detained at Sogo

The police have detained 15 participants of the Black 505 flashmob today in a round-up that included a woman and a 10-year-old boy.

The flashmob around the Sogo shopping centre vicinity was intended to build up to the Black 505 rally against electoral fraud on June 22 at Padang Merbok.

A group of 14 were first rounded up and hauled into a police Black Maria in front of Sogo at around 2.50pm.

Amongst them was Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia’s (Samm) propaganda director Edy Noor Reduan.

An officer who identified himself as ASP Shuhaimi said the group will be brought to Dang Wangi police district headquarters.

After the Black Maria departed, two more were picked up - student activist Ekhsan Bukharee (above, handcuffed) and another participant - after they attempted to call on passers-by to gather at Dang Wangi in solidarity with the detained 14.

Two police officers were seen accompanying the duo to Dang Wangi on foot.
According to Bernama,the group is being probed under section 9(5) of the Peaceful Assembly Act. At about 8pm, all the detainees were being processed for release on police bail.
Lawyer initially barred

Earlier, around 30 people participated in the flashmob that started at 2.15pm - the first of two planned.

They stood in front of the popular shopping centre at Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman for about 30 minutes holding placards reading ‘EC chairman step down’ and ‘Come join the June 22 Blackout’.

After the arrests, the remaining flashmob participants, along with the media, gathered in front of Dang Wangi to get updates on the detainees.

Student activist Adam Adli who had also been previously detained for attending a Black 505 rally, was present at the scene.

“I know Eddy, and I am here to meet him. A lawyer, New Sin Yew was not allowed to enter the station to meet with those detained,” he said.

The police who prevented New from entry said they were awaiting instructions from their superiors.

They eventually allowed him in after he said he would lodge a report for being obstructed from providing legal representation to the detainees.

The June 22 rally is being organised to protest alleged electoral fraud during the 13th general election and to call for the resignation of the Election Commission’s leaders.

Although they have reached a stalemate in negotiating with the KL City Council (DBKL) over the use of Padang Merbok for the rally, the organisers say they will proceed regardless.

The police however today warned that they will take action if the rally organisers do not have the “relevant permits”.