Police detain Bersih leaders on eve of rally

PETALING JAYA: Bersih 2.0 chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah and secretariat member Mandeep Singh have been detained by the police for questioning following a surprise raid on the electoral watchdog's office this afternoon.
Bersih steering committee member Jay Jay Denis said that Maria was taken in for questioning under Section 124C of the Penal Code for attempts to carry out activities detrimental to parliamentary democracy, while Mandeep was taken in for questioning under Section 147 of the Penal Code for rioting.
"At this juncture, all we know is both of them are being taken to the Petaling Jaya police headquarters to have their statements recorded and they will be detained overnight.
"However we do not know at which police station they will be spending the night in as we are still waiting for more information," he said, adding that there was a possibility that both Maria and Mandeep will be taken to the Dang Wangi police station after their statements were recorded.
"However to our dismay, they have raided the office without showing us proper notice. All we know is that the notice will be served at the police station," Jay Jay said to reporters after both Maria and Mandeep were taken away.
Asked on what items had been confiscated, he said that police seized ten laptops, two boxes of documents as well as Maria and Mandeep's mobile phones and identification cards.
However, Jay Jay stressed that despite Maria and Mandeep's arrest, the Bersih 5 rally will proceed as planned tomorrow.
Jay Jay also told theSun that Bersih will organise a candle light vigil for both Maria and Mandeep.
He said the location of the candle light vigil will depend on where the duo are being held overnight.
Asked on the reason for their arrest, Jay jay said that the officer in charge informed them it was due to the alleged funding from OSF.
"But at the same time, it looks like it is because of tomorrow's rally because if its due to the funding then they could have come any other day instead of on the eve of the rally," he explained.
Maria will be detained overnight at Jinjang police station while Mandeep will be at IPK KL.
There will be candle vigil at both locations.