KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 11 — A group of concerned parents, friends, and family urged authorities and the media today to safeguard the wellbeing of Cradle CEO Nazrin Hassan’s two teenage stepsons who were remanded in an investigation of their stepfather’s murder.

The group’s spokesman Faizanah Sidique said the privacy and identity of the two minors must be protected, as per the Child Act 2001.

“We strongly oppose the practice of handcuffing the juveniles assisting the investigation and must observe that they are innocent until proven guilty,” she said.

“We have reason to believe that if they were willing to cooperate with the police, the standard operating procedures would not require handcuffs.

“In respect of the dignity of these children, we condemn this act strongly and urge the PDRM (Royal Malaysia Police) to undergo both sensitivity training and review the uses of handcuffs — especially towards children under 18,” she added.

The two boys were brought to the Magistrate’s Court in Petaling Jaya last Sunday in handcuffs and lock-up attire. The court granted police a seven-day remand for the suspects.

“In light of the public nature of this case, we also strongly recommend that the law enforcement and court records and related information associated with youth under the age of 18 who come into contact with the justice system be kept from any and all public disclosure,” said Faizanah.

Police obtained yesterday an extended three-day remand order to further investigate Nazrin’s wife Samirah Muzaffar.

Nazrin’s death on June 14 has been reclassified as murder after a laboratory test showed foul play. He was initially believed to have died from a fire caused by an exploding handphone.

His burnt body was discovered on the top floor of his double-storey semi-detached house in Mutiara Damansara, with traces of petrol found at the scene. Puncture wounds on his neck have also been found.