Former minister P Waythamoorthy has lambasted the remand extension of radio personality Patrick Teoh, calling it a "return of the dark old regime where abuses of powers by police went unchecked".
Teoh was remanded following his arrest in Petaling Jaya, Selangor on May 9 to facilitate investigations into his allegedly insulting remarks about the Tunku Mahkota of Johor Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim.
Johor police chief Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay announced yesterday that police would be applying for the remand to be extended for another three to four days, in accordance with Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
"The purpose of remand extension is very clear, to enable police to investigate and not to enable police to complete investigations on flimsy grounds as stated by Ayub Khan," said Waythamoothy in a statement today.
He was referring to Ayub's explanation that the extension was to enable police to complete investigation papers and that Teoh did not cooperate, had forgotten all of his passwords including for his e-mail and said that his handphone was lost a day before he was called for investigations.
"The right to extend remand proceedings must be done in accordance with the law and not at the whims and fancies of the police.
"The excuse 'to complete investigations' clearly shows Ayub Khan is admitting police inefficiencies which are pathetic," said Waythamoorthy, a former minister in the prime minister's department who still sits in the Dewan Negara.
He said that the excuse of completing investigations had been consistently rejected by the judiciary for remand extensions and said that the police were disrespecting decisions of the highest court.
"Is Ayub admitting our police are not trained to efficiently investigate or is he saying he seeks the extension to 'compel' the return of Teoh’s memory?
"The pertinent question that begs an answer is what were the police doing in the three-day remand period," he added.
He said the suspect had already been held for long and questioned if it was an infringement of Teoh’s right to remain silent.
"Time and again we see abuses of police during remand proceedings and extensions which have caused great injustices to suspects.
"Nothing stops the police from continuing their investigation whilst releasing Teoh on bail taking into account he is 73 years of age and the risks he may face from being exposed to coronavirus in custody," he added.
Waythamoorthy said that there must be compassion in administering justice as justice is meant to serve the need of people and police are entrusted by the system to practice fairness and uphold the rule of law. - Mkini
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