KUALA LUMPUR, April 8 ― Lawyer Siti Kasim said today that the police are investigating her for criminal intimidation and obstruction of public servants after she defended trans women from arrest at a dinner that was raided by the Federal Territories Islamic Department (JAWI).

Siti said police arrested her yesterday under Section 186 and 506 of the Penal Code and subsequently released her on bail.

“I was doing my duty as a lawyer for my clients,” Siti said in a Facebook post.

“If I had managed to stop the over-zealous officers from arresting many of the TGs that night from being humiliated and punished unlawfully, I would gladly be charged for the offence,” she added, referring to transgenders.

Siti confirmed the contents of the post when contacted by Malay Mail Online.

Section 186 of the Penal Code refers to the obstruction of a public servant in the discharge of his public functions, while Section 506 deals with criminal intimidation. Both offences carry a maximum penalty of imprisonment for two years and seven years respectively.

Jawi raided a private fundraising event by the transgender community Sunday night at a hotel here that hosted a purported beauty contest for entertainment, but the guests were allowed to leave.

The religious authorities, however, arrested the transgender organiser, with transgender rights group SEED Malaysia telling Malay Mail Online that Jawi planned to charge her under Shariah law next month with encouraging vice and with defying religious authorities.

Siti said today that she did not use any obscene words and denied intimidating any of the Jawi officers at the raid.

“Perhaps, they were intimidated by my loud voice and blonde hair with flowers. Religious people can be very sensitive, you know?” she said.

She said that the police investigation would not subdue her and she would repeat her actions a “hundred times over against any form of tyranny under the guise of religion.”

Siti said she initially went to the Dang Wangi police station to have her statement recorded regarding her police report on the conduct of Jawi officers on Sunday, but was eventually told that she would have to be arrested and put on police bail.

According to the lawyer, Jawi officers had lodged their own police report regarding the incident.

Religious authorities constantly conduct raids and also arrest transgenders in Malaysia under respective state Shariah enactments. They are then subjected to religious counselling or heavy fines.