Umany ex-leader Wong Yan Ke released under police bail

 

After he was arrested and detained by the police since 3pm yesterday, University of Malaya Association of New Youth (Umany) former president Wong Yan Ke was released at around 12.20pm today.

Speaking to the media in front of the Mutiara Damansara police station in Petaling Jaya, his lawyer Rajsurian Pillai said that Wong was released under police bail but his phone remained seized by the police.

Wong told the press that he was "mentally exhausted" as the arrest and detention period was over 15 hours. However, the questioning time took only less than one hour, he said.

Wong decided to start a Facebook live stream when a group of men who claimed to be police officers tried to enter current Umany president Robin Yap Wen Qing's home yesterday.

Wong said he was not obstructing, either physically or verbally, and that he was merely standing aside while filming.

"The men who claimed to be police officers started shouting at us. That was when I decided to start the Facebook live recording, as I was worried that our lives are being threatened," he said.

He explained that his worry was based on the recent online threats received by Umany leaders after publishing statements regarding the role of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Wong was arrested under Section 186 of the Penal Code for obstructing a public servant from carrying out his duties. The group of police officers from the Kajang district police station (IPD) were said to be there to search Yap's house regarding the Umany leader's sedition case.

Wong was first brought to the Petaling Jaya IPD before being transferred to the Mutiara Damansara police station because a police report was made by a police officer from the Kajang IPD, according to his lawyer.

Regarding the absence of a warrant when the police searched and seized items at Yap's house yesterday, Rajsurian explained that as Yap was investigated under the Sedition Act, police ranked Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) and above are authorised to search his house without a warrant.

Meanwhile, Rajsurian said that he understood Wong's fears and suspicions as the policemen were in plainclothes and although some of them were in green "police vests", they could have been purchased elsewhere.

Representatives from the National Human Rights Network (JHAM), Teoh Beng Hock Trust for Democracy, Amnesty International Malaysia, and the DAP Youth wing were also present outside the Mutiara Damansara police station to show their support today.

"The action of the police is totally abuse of power. Video recording of the police who are carrying out their duty cannot be deemed as obstructing their duties," said JHAM spokesperson Ng Yap Hwa.

He also questioned the necessity of handcuffing Wong as he was not a serious offender. He said that JHAM will lodge a police report against the police officer from the Kajang IPD and call for an investigation on possible abuse of power.

"This is not only about Yan Ke, but the fundamental liberty of Malaysians," he added.

DAP Youth secretary Eric Teh Hoong Keat reiterated that they will give their full support to Wong and a complaint letter will be sent to the Bukit Aman police headquarters by tomorrow. - Mkini