TAWAU – The seven individuals detained by police after staging a protest over the extension of the enhanced movement control order (EMCO) on a village here were released at 3.15pm today.
They include two Borneo Komrad activists Mukmin Nantang and Azwan Irwan, while the rest are believed to be their friends and residents of Kg Muhibbahraya, where the EMCO was recently extended to May 8.
Their counsel Raymond Guok told The Vibes the police did not apply for an extension of their remand order.
“They were released on police bail at around 3.15pm just now because no extension was made on their remand order. The police will continue with their investigation.”
Police detained the seven individuals last Saturday after they held a protest in front of the village around 3.30pm, calling for the end of the lockdown.
The EMCO was supposed to end on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Mukmin’s brother Mimin Palaka lodged a report over the alleged police aggression against Mukmin yesterday.
Police yesterday said they have not received any report over the alleged incident, but several activists who know Mukmin alleged the activist was hit on the chest and shoulders while inside a van.
Sabah police commissioner Datuk Hazani Ghazali had also denied the allegation and said the detention was conducted according to Section 15 of Criminal Procedure Code.
In a related development, a fund collection drive for the benefit of the protesters raised RM17,807 in less than two hours of its launch.
The call for donations was shared on Facebook last night with a RM15,400 target to pay for bail and legal fees. – The Vibes, April 26, 2021
Additional reporting by Jason Santos
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