KUALA LUMPUR: Petaling Jaya MP Maria Chin Abdullah is seeking damages from the government and police over her detention under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 two years ago.
In her suit filed on Aug 6, the former Bersih 2.0 chief claimed that her 10-day detention, from Nov 18 to 28, 2016 was not justified under the law.
Maria was arrested on the eve of the Bersih 5.0 rally that year, which was to demand the then Barisan Nasional government to investgate Najib Razak over the transaction of some RM2.6 billion into his personal bank account.
She said while under detention, the police questioned her on Bersih’s links with 1MDB, her association with Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle-Brown as well as to provide details of Bersih’s finances.
She said police not state reasons when she was accused of violating the security law.
She added that she was kept in a solitary confinement and denied access to medical treatment.
Meanwhile, in their defence statement, the police and government said Maria’s arrest was based on police reports that urged the authorities to take action against those who threatened peace and stability.
They also said they had explained to Maria on the grounds of her arrest.
“The detention was not malicious and not due to political reasons,” they said.
The High Court has set Jan 16, 2019 for the next case mention for Maria and the government to file trial documents.
Maria had filed a habeas corpus application seeking her release from Sosma.
She was released before the habaes corpus hearing.
The Federal Court has however upheld the High Court’s 2016 decision to dismiss her habaes corpus. -FMT
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