KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 19 — Bersih 2.0 co-chairman Maria Chin Abdullah has been detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 amid the Bersih 5 rally.
A lawyer with the polls reform group, Fadiah Nadwa Fikri, confirmed that Maria was detained under the security law this afternoon.
Police could hold her up to 28 days and two days without legal representation.
“Under Sosma detention, Maria can be detained for a further 28 days. We are shocked and appalled by this abuse of power,” Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) tweeted.
The human rights group also tweeted that the magistrate court granted a two-day remand for nine other suspects arrested for rioting.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Amar Singh Ishar Singh confirmed the arrests of 14 people last night, mostly pro-Bersih activists and opposition politicians.
He said the arrests were made to prevent riots, breach of the peace and public order.
Maria, however, was nabbed under Section 124C of the Penal Code that prohibits the attempt to commit activities detrimental to parliamentary democracy.
Tens of thousands of people flooded the streets of the capital city in yellow at the Bersih 5 demonstration, organised by Bersih 2.0, to protest against corruption and to call for free and fair elections.
