Perak police deny abusing two brothers

Perak police have denied news reports that two brothers, who were detained in April to assist in an investigation, were abused while being remanded at the Ipoh district police headquarters.

State police chief Datuk Seri Abdul Rahim Hanafi said the duo, N. Letchumanan, 19, and N. Vikram, 17, were remanded on April 20 for six days under Section 307 of the Penal Code for attempted murder.

Abdul Rahim said the duo were re-arrested on April 26 for investigation on rioting under the Section 148 of the Penal Code.

"On May 22, the two suspects, who are members of the 'Kongsi Gelap 36', were again detained under Section 3(1) Prevention of Crime Act (POCA) 1959 for allegedly being involved in violent crime and were remanded for 60 days for investigations," he said in a statement here last night.

According to Abdul Rahim, following the arrest under POCA, the Crime Prevention Board ordered the duo to be detained at the Special Rehabilitation Centre in Kluang, Johor for two years starting July 20.

Following the clarification, Abdul Rahim advised any party including their siblings who were dissatisfied with the actions taken by the police, to use legitimate and legal channels.

On Friday, Letchumanan and Vikram through their lawyer T. Shasi Devan had submitted a memorandum to the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) in Kuala Lumpur which alleged that they were abused.