2. Bar Council - PS31/10/07

The Bar Council is concerned that 4 lawyers namely, P. Uthayakumar, M. Manoharan, P. Waythamoorthy and Ganapati Rao were arrested late last night, in the course of carrying out their legal professional duties. We understand that they are presently held under arrest at the section 11 Shah Alam police station. We were notified that they were at the police station to represent their clients who were themselves earlier arrested. These lawyers were denied access to their clients and were subsequently arrested.

The recently amended section 28A of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) allows a detained person the right to communicate with the legal practitioner of his choice upon arrest. We are concerned that these arrested persons including the 4 lawyers were denied this right, which is a flagrant breach of the new provision of the CPC.

The Bar Council calls for the immediate release of these 4 lawyers and we expect the police to fully comply with the provisions of the CPC involving the rights of arrested persons.

Dated: 31st October 2007.

Ragunath Kesavan
Vice-President
Malaysian Bar