More Sosma suspects claim torture, sexual harassment during detention

More allegations have resurfaced in relation to torture during detention which includes detainees allegedly threatened at gun point and forced to bend over to be sodomised.

After receiving letters purportedly written by seven detainees held under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) detailing the torture they faced, Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) said it received additional allegations by six other detainees last month.

These detainees, claimed Suaram executive director Sevan Doraisamy, were allegedly used as punching bags by officers and were slapped and beaten, despite cooperating with the investigation.

One detainee in particular was threatened at gunpoint during questioning, forced to strip naked and was sexually harassed by officers.

"This detainee was stripped and bent over, his anus caressed with a water bottle.

“Another detainee was forced to strip and forced to bend over to be sodomised,” said Sevan, adding that he was unsure whether the actual act was carried out or otherwise.

Apart from the torture faced by detainees, family members were also subjected to rough handling and one detainee’s wife was allegedly beaten without reason during arrest.

“Some family members were slapped by officers,” he added.

Complaint with EAIC

Denouncing the alleged torture faced by the detainees, Suaram today handed over a memorandum to the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC), urging the commission to investigate the matter.

“They (EAIC) have promised to conduct investigations; in fact, they have started investigating,” he said.

Meanwhile, Suaram coordinator Amir Abd Hadi said Suaram had lodged a complaint with the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) on Jan 22.

“(Therefore), Suhakam will focus more on the human rights aspect while the EAIC will focus more on the standard operating procedure (SOP) of the police (on use of torture),” he said, adding that representatives from the EAIC have met representatives from Suhakam on the matter.

Last month, Suaram released letters written by detainees held under Sosma who alleged torture during their detention.

The letters detailed the threats and torture the detainees allegedly faced in the early phases of a Sosma case, where police can detain suspects for up to 28 days for investigation before they are brought to court.

Among others, one detainee claimed that he was forced to kiss the foot of his investigating officer, forced to masturbate while they watched, forced to watch pornographic videos with the officers, and forced to make a pronouncement of divorce upon his wife (lafaz taklik cerai).

-Mkini