Kuala lumpur: The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) has stressed that there was no abuse of power in the enforcement of Op Songsang, refuting recent claims that detainees were intentionally held for more than 24 hours.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Fadil Marsus said the processes involving documentation, remand applications, and bail arrangements required additional time, due to the large number of individuals detained and the involvement of many lawyers. ‘When we are unable to obtain a remand order, we cannot simply release the detainees immediately. We must first complete the profiling process,’ he stated during a press conference after officiating the Merentas Cabaran, Memacu Kesejahteraan Series 3 programme, themed ‘Unity for Safety’.
Clarifying the situation that occurred during the operation last Friday, Fadil asserted that all legal procedures and documentation were conducted in line with established standard operating procedures (SOPs). He explained that the raid commenced at 8 pm, and the subsequent processes at the scene, and later at the district police headquarters (IPD), required considerable time, with the official police report finalized by 12 noon the following day.
Fadil elaborated that the perceived delay was a critical phase of the process which was unavoidable. ‘Once the investigation papers were completed at 1 pm, we had to upload the remand application data into the system between 1.30 pm and 3.30 pm. The remand application was then presented before the Magistrate at 6 pm. If calculated from the time of arrest, we were still within the valid 24-hour window. However, due to the large number of detainees and the presence of 14 lawyers, the process extended into the night before it was fully completed,’ he explained.
Fadil also dismissed allegations of ‘double standard’ treatment towards the detained individuals. Addressing claims that police had intentionally exposed the identities of detainees, potentially jeopardizing their careers, he emphasized that police investigations are confidential, and any official statements were issued based solely on general case facts, without revealing specific personal information.
He added that the investigation is still ongoing, with police continuing to gather information and evidence before making recommendations for potential charges. ‘If there is sufficient basis, we will refer the investigation paper to the Deputy Public Prosecutor, with recommendations for further action,’ he affirmed.
Last Friday, 17 civil servants were among 208 individuals arrested during a police raid on a health club in the Chow Kit area, believed to be a hotspot for immoral activities. The two-storey premises had been operating for the past eight to 10 months, opening from 5 pm to 11 pm on weekdays and from 3 pm to 11 pm on weekends. Following the raid, several parties made allegations of police misconduct and abuse of power in handling the detained individuals.