Cops: Handcuffed girl got it 'very mild'

The Kuala Lumpur police chief Mohmad Salleh has defended his men for handcuffing a 19-year-old girl who surrendered herself yesterday. 

Speaking to reporters today, Mohmad said the the matter was considered "light" and that proper procedures were followed.

"Handcuffing someone is an arrest procedure... I think (in her case) it was very mild. If we follow (the procedures strictly), she would be cuffed behind her back.

"So during an arrest, the handcuffs are not an issue. In any arrest, the suspect must be handcuffed.

"This is prescribed by law. It is not wrong for us to use handcuffs when apprehending a (suspect)," he said. 

He was responding to questions from reporters at a function in Kuala Lumpur. Mohmad was shown a news clipping depicting the girl in handcuffs.

The girl is accused of violating the Sedition Act 1948 at Dataran Merdeka on Merdeka Day eve by stepping on Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's photograph.

Quizzed of the use of the law, which is soon to be abolished and replaced with the Harmony Act, Mohmad said the law has yet to be repealed.

"This means that the Act is still in force. Thus we have the right (to use it)," he said.

Mahmod said his men are still pursuing eight out of 11 people wanted over several incidents in connection with the incident.

He added that 238 police reports were lodged over the incident.