Wednesday, June 19, 2019

IGP, clarify if 250 plus 'would be militants' were detained for 're-habilitation'? Is this role of police, and what law was used?

IGP reported saying  Special Branch succeeds in de-radicalising 97% of suspects detained(see media report below). 

BUT IS IT LEGAL TO ARREST AND DETAIN PEOPLE THE POLICE BELIEVE MAY BECOME TERRORIST JUST TO 'DE-RADICALISE' THEM? Is it legal for police to do this kind of 'rehabilitation work"?

Federal Special Branch deputy director and CTD head DCP Datuk Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay told theSun that from 2001 to 2012, a total of 239 would-be militants, mainly from the Southeast Asian terror group Jemaah Islamiyah, were enlisted by police into the rehabilitation programme while from 2013 onwards, 113 from the Islamic State group were engaged.

The duty of the the police is BASICALLY to investigate crime.

 
Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Datuk Seri Abdul Hamid Bador

They may arrest suspects and detain them for the purpose of investigations ... to help them get evidence for the purpose of prosecution - to charge them in court. It is the COURT after a fair trial that decides whether a person is guilty or innocent? Certainly not the police ...certainly not even the prosecution.

If the person arrested and remanded, and the police found that there is NO evidence or  insufficient evidence to charge them in court, then they are released. The decision of whether someone is to be charged in court is generally with the prosecution - the Public Prosecutor decides usually whether to charge or not.

Remember, there are so many terrorist-related crimes in Malaysian law, and even preparation or inciting others to do acts of terrorism is a crime. Remember Siti Noor Aishah Atam's's case...the offence was something about being in possession of books related to terrorism...

Siti Noor Aishah Atam - Ditahan lagi di bawah SOSMA? 

Release Siti Noor Aishah Atam from Poca restrictions, kata 36 kumpulan (Malaysiakini, 20/12/2016)

Siti Noor Aishah Atam - victim of SOSMA, found Not Guilty by High Court, then re-detained under POCA?

Terrorist - Who does Malaysia consider 'Terrorists', Terrorist Ideology/Books? Siti Noor Aishah Atam? What happend to 8 arrested?

Terrorist - Mufti also asks who Malaysia say they are..? HAMAS? PLO? IRA? - Siti Noor Aishah Hatam?

There surely was some law that this 'would be militants' may have violated - so charge them and the courts decide. If guilty, maybe time to also give courts the power to sentence for so many days of rehabilitation.  Police should not decide who is 'would be militant' and who is not - leave it to the court. Police must stop these 're-habilitation' activities but let the court decide whether they be sentenced to rehabilitation or not...

IN MY OPINION, Malaysian police really do not have the full trust of the people. Remember Anwar Ibrahim's black eye - the police denied causing it, and finally it was revealed that the then Inspector General of Police(IGP) did it...Remember also recent outcome of SUHAKAM inquiry ...

fter an extensive public inquiry, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) announced today that the Special Branch, the special police intelligence team from Bukit Aman, was involved in the abduction of pastor Raymond Koh, similar to that of activist Amri Che Mat. - Victims of Enforced Dissapearance by police officers - Amri and Pastor Koh? HR Commission's findings
So do we trust the police to identify 'would be militants' on their own...OR even 're-rehabilitate' them. Leave it to the PROFESSIONALS after the Court decides to sentence them to receive counseling and re-rehabilitation ..POLICE need work hard to regain the peoples' trust

IS THERE ANY LAW THAT ALLOWS THE POLICE TO DO THIS? Educate us AG Tommy Thomas?

I do not know of any law that allows the police to influence or 'de-radicalize' detainees during these remand detention...or is there some new law that I am unaware of?

Are the police arresting and detaining people and doing 're-habilitation' during detention? Or are they simply visiting or inviting them to some sessions ...Detaining and re-habilitating is wrong, in my opinion, but if it just some visits and counselling, it may be OK? The IGP needs to clarify...

In either case, the Inspector General of police must satisfy us that they are not using the arrest and detention powers for this 're-habilitation'...Concern about this 'abuse' is raised following news report of a ex-SOSMA detainee, whilst attending a police'buka puasa' talks about 're-education' during detention under SOSMA?

Afy, a SOSMA victim, at police 'buka puasa' saying SOSMA helped him? Re-education during detention? JOKE?

Maybe, the Attorney General should tell us the law that allows the police to do these 're-rehabilitation'  OR if there is none, maybe the AG should advise the government to stop this...

NEXT, which law have they been using ...are they using SOSMA or even the Detention Without Trial Laws for this 'de-radicalizing' activities ...again so wrong?

The police going to schools, colleges, universities, some other public places and giving talks or offering counseling sessions where the  attendees/invitees are free to attend or not may be OK - but then should this be the role of the police?

HOW DID YOU DECIDE WHO IS A 'WOULD BE MILITANT'?

For drug users, one can determine that they are users by urine or blood tests - and there are laws about 're-habilitation'?

But, how do you come to identify persons who may possibly become a terrorist in the future? Guess work? Hence, the IGP's claim that they de-radicalised 250 plus persons? Maybe hem were really not even thinking of becoming terrorist in the first first place?

If anyone is to determine someone is a 'would be militant', it must be the Courts not the police or the Special Branch?

'Would be criminals' is an absurd notion - when a person starts preparing to commit the crime, it is an offence...when he commits the crime, he commits an offence? 

Should we start 're-habilitation' programs for Ministers, MPs, public servants to prevent them abusing their power, committing the offence of corruption, etc??? 

Everyone may be a would be criminal - but until he actually commits a crime, he has done no wrong.

IGP claims 97% of the persons did end up militants ...maybe these 97% never would have with or without rehabilitation by the Special Branch...maybe 97% were unnecessarily 'rehabilitated'...how much peoples' money was wasted? Was it also peoples' money spend for these 'buka puasa' functions with these alleged 'rehabilitated' 'would be militants'?

“Out of the total, only 10 failed. We managed to de-radicalise over 97% of them and have them move away from extremism. Many countries have approached us to learn and adopt our programme,” he said.

“Once rehabilitated, we arrange to get them jobs and they become our friends. We constantly keep in touch and monitor them to make sure they do not return to their old ways.”
How many crimes have yet to be investigated? How many crimes have been unsolved? How many murders still remain unsolved? How many corruption cases to be solved..

Clearly the police have lot of work to do..and they should stop this 'rehabilitation work' with people they allege are 'would be militants"...a program which they say cost a lot of money
It is a costly affair but it has to be done. This approach has been quietly done behind the scenes,” he said during an exclusive interview with theSun.

Special Branch succeeds in de-radicalising 97% of suspects detained, says IGP

17 Jun 2019 / 12:22 H.

KUALA LUMPUR: A soft approach by the Special Branch has succeeded in keeping 352 individuals from turning into full-fledged terrorists since 2001.
Apart from de-radicalising would-be militants, the Special Branch counter-terrorism division (CTD) also works behind the scenes, sniffing out sympathisers before subtly engaging them and enlisting them in its rehabilitation programme.

Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Datuk Seri Abdul Hamid Bador (pix), who commended the CTD for its success, said the police have a two-pronged approach.

“One way is to take on the militants directly and have them face the full brunt of the law while the other is psy-warfare, where we engage them for rehabilitation. They are put through counselling by religious and psychological experts who enlighten them on how they have been misled and subsequently guide them on the right path of Islam. We gauge the level of their involvement in militancy. If they have not ‘crossed the line’, we use this method. It is a costly affair but it has to be done. This approach has been quietly done behind the scenes,” he said during an exclusive interview with theSun.

Abdul Hamid added that often, when such terror cell members were identified and approached, police rope in their families to assist in the programme. He said the families have contributed immensely to its success.

Federal Special Branch deputy director and CTD head DCP Datuk Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay told theSun that from 2001 to 2012, a total of 239 would-be militants, mainly from the Southeast Asian terror group Jemaah Islamiyah, were enlisted by police into the rehabilitation programme while from 2013 onwards, 113 from the Islamic State group were engaged.

“Out of the total, only 10 failed. We managed to de-radicalise over 97% of them and have them move away from extremism. Many countries have approached us to learn and adopt our programme,” he said.

“Once rehabilitated, we arrange to get them jobs and they become our friends. We constantly keep in touch and monitor them to make sure they do not return to their old ways.”

Ayob said there are no longer large militant cells in Malaysia.

He said those that exist now were “lone wolves” and “wolf packs” of five or six members. - Sun Daily, 17/6/2019

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