KUALA LUMPUR: Four lawyers from Lawyers for Liberty who were arrested when trying to provide legal aid to detainees three years ago, have filed a suit against the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and the Malaysian Government claiming they were wrongfully arrested.
Their counsel Farhana Abd Halim said they had filed the suit to make a point to the police, saying that arresting lawyers attempting to provide legal aid was a “breach of fundamental liberty, as provided by the constitution”.
The plaintiffs in the suit are Fadiah Nadwa Fikri, 29, Murnie Hidayah Anuar, 28, Puspawati Rosman, 31, and Syuhaini Safwan, 28.
The four were among five lawyers arrested on May 7, 2009 after trying to get access to their clients, who were arrested for holding a candlelight vigil for Wong Chin Huat. Wong was arrested under the Sedition Act for running the 1Black Msia campaign.
The suit filed in the High Court here Friday named seven defendants, including the officers that arrested the lawyers, the commanding officers, the IGP and Government.
By Qishin Tariq
thestar.com.my