Rafizi, Hishamuddin to be freed tonight, lawyer says

PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli (right, with microphone) will be released tonight after police finish taking his statement for participating in the Workers Day rally, says lawyer G. Sivamalar. – The Malaysian Insider pic, May 2, 2015.

PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli and activist Hishamuddin Rais will be released tonight after the police finish taking their statements in connection with the Workers Day rally yesterday, says lawyer G. Sivamalar.

She tweeted that according to the investigating officer, an ASP Rizami, both men would be freed on bail.

Rafizi was arrested this morning after presenting himself at the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters for questioning over the rally yesterday, which saw an estimated 10,000 people march through the streets of the city to oppose the goods and services tax (GST).

Rafizi was later brought to the Dang Wangi police headquarters for further investigation under the Penal Code and the Sedition Act.

Hishamuddin was arrested at home this afternoon and brought by police van to the Dang Wangi station.

Police began arresting protesters who were at the rally yesterday evening after it had ended.

Twenty-nine youths were arrested, allegedly for throwing smoke bombs and vandalism during the rally. Six who are minors will be released tonight and the rest have been remanded for three days.

Besides Rafizi and Hishamuddin, four other high-profile arrests were that of lawyer and activist Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, DAP national organisation secretary and Seremban MP Anthony Loke, PAS MP for Kuala Krai Dr Hatta Ramli, and Parti Sosialis Malaysia secretary-general S. Arutchelvan.

The four were released earlier today after spending a night in the police lock-up.

Police investigations are under the Penal Code for unlawful assembly, but Rafizi and Loke have also been told that they are being probed for sedition.

In late March, Rafizi was arrested for remarks made about the #KitaLawan rally held on March 28.

Activist Hishamuddin was also arrested around the same time in connection with the same #KitaLawan rally. His dramatic arrest was made by plainclothes policemen who bundled him into a car while he was walking towards Dataran Merdeka to attend an anti-GST ceramah.

- TMI