Maria: Police ceased probe against me under Sosma

Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah said she was told by the police that it will cease its investigation against her under Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma).

The 60-year-old who was detained for 10 days was released today after another round of police questioning.

In an immediate response, Maria said the police will continue with their investigation on her.

"They took a statement (from me) and said they will release me. They also said a different set of investigation will carry on," she told Malaysiakini when contacted.

"(I'm) no longer (being probed) under Sosma, but I am not sure what they are going to do. I just don't know."

Maria said she was not sure whether she would be re-arrested by police or another round of Sosma awaiting her.

"You (Malaysiakini) are very lucky to have the last interview before I got arrested," she said jokingly.

Asked about the police interrogation, Maria said they asked her similar questions after her arrest and until she was released.

"But they were not happy with my answers - about Bersih's account, Global Bersih, the whole George Soros thing. They think that we still have connections.

"But they have taken most of our things (during the raid on the eve of Bersih 5 rally). They should know by now," she added.

Maria was arrested on Nov 18, one day before the Bersih 5 rally.

She was being investigated under Section 124C of the Penal Code for engaging in activities detrimental to parliamentary democracy and held under Sosma.

This is after it was revealed that the electoral watchdog received funds from the Open Society Foundations, which is linked to billionaire Soros.

Her lawyers claimed that she was being kept in solitary confinement in a small windowless room without a bed.

Inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar had promised that Maria's well-being was being looked after and that she was provided a bed and copy of the Quran.

Maria, who once headed Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor (Empower), felt sorry that the women's group was raided this evening.

"They think Bersih's account was placed at Empower's office. I kept telling them 'no' as we have taken everything from Empower when we moved to the new office, " she added.

Empower once housed the secretariat of Bersih before the latter shifted out to its Petaling Jaya office now.-Mkini