KUALA LUMPUR: Four people, who were detained by the police for allegedly insulting a police officer during an anti-goods and services tax (GST) rally, have been released.
Muhammad Zaki Sukery, one of the lawyers of the 25 released on bail earlier, said that the four were released without charge.
“Khalid B Mohd Ismath was released because he has been put under arrest for more than 24 hours. He was arrested earlier in the morning before the event occurred on Monday. The Magistrate ordered for him to be released for unlawful detention.
“All the 3 others were all released yesterday in stages after lunch,” he said
Earlier yesterday, 25 people, among the 29 who were accused of ignoring a police order to disperse at the sit-in outside the Customs Department office in Kelana Jaya, were released on bail of RM3,000 in one surety and must return to court on May 14 for a hearing.
The charge under Section 21(1)(d) of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 states the circumstances under which the police have the power to order protesters to disperse.
The anti-GST protest on Monday was organised by Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) and Gabungan Bantah GST, a coalition of activists opposed to the consumption tax.
The goal of the sit-in was to get the Customs Department to answer some 100 questions on the GST which will be implemented on April 1.
Police broke up the sit-in after 5pm and arrested 80 people then, while another three were arrested later that night at the candlelight vigil outside the police station.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar has defended the police against criticism for arresting peaceful protesters, saying the demonstrators were “trespassers” and had acted “as if to take control of the Customs complex.”
