SHAH ALAM: The police have denied that they had wrongfully arrested anyone asked to provide their statement for investigations into the riots at the Sri Maha Mariamman Devasthanam temple in Subang Jaya.
Selangor police chief Commissioner Datuk Mazlan Mansor said so far, the arrest of suspects was based on standard operating procedures, where there were reasonable grounds to detain individuals suspected of involvement for questioning.
“We are just doing our job. If there’s a valid reason to believe that the individual is involved with the temple fracas, then we will have to execute our duty,“ he told reporters at the Selangor police headquarters here today.
Mazlan pointed out that not all individuals who were arrested will necessarily lead to prosecution, clarifying that the Attorney-General’s Chambers will decide on the next course of action.
He was responding to a faction of the Hindu temple led by S. Ramaji who reportedly claimed that the police had wrongfully detained some worshipers during the riots that broke out over a land dispute.
However, Mazlan assured that if the public feels that there were wrongful arrests, then a police report can be lodged and the police will look into it.
Mazlan said that to date, 102 people have been arrested in connection with the incident.
Earlier this week, police disclosed 66 individuals who were being sought to assist the probe in the riot.
Meanwhile, Mazlan also added that the lawyer and development director of MCT Bhd, who were detained in connection with the riot at the temple, have been released on police bail.
The duo were released on a RM10,000 bond on Wednesday.
“Both are required to present themselves at the Petaling Jaya magistrate’s court next Wednesday (Dec 12),“ he today.
The riots which took place on Nov 26 and 27 following disagreements over the relocation of the temple to a new site had resulted in several people being injured as well as vehicle and property damage.
Several policemen were injured in the clashes in which 23 vehicles either torched or damaged and business premises vandalised.
Firefighter Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim was also seriously injured by attackers and is now warded at the National Heart Institute.
