800 HELD UNDER SOSMA SINCE 2013
Those detained under Sosma can be remanded up to 28 days without bail before court hearing
MORE than 800 detainees had been nabbed since 2013 under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) by the Federal Criminal Investigation Department.
These detainees were nabbed by Bukit Aman’s Counter Terrorism (E8) Division under the Criminal Offences Act and under Chapter VI of the Penal Code, specifically offences committed against the state and ruler.
Anyone detained under Sosma can be remanded up to 28 days without bail before being charged or produced in court.
Sosma is put together to curb activities of a person or a group that wants to overthrow or undermine the country or government, including cross-border threats, and anything that can lead to public unrest and poses a national threat to Malaysia.
Federal police Special Branch Counter-Terrorism Division (E8) principal assistant director Datuk Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said 415 individuals believed to have militant links with terror groups, such as Islamic State, had been detained under Sosma.
Ayob said 110 of those detained under the Sosma were foreign nationals
“Of the total, 106 were released after serving 28 days on remand, while 41 others who served jail term had been released from prison’s.
“Those released without condition or supervision from the Prevention of Crime Act (Poca) and Prevention of Terrorism Act (Pota) 2015, stood at 37 and 18, respectively.”
All three Acts come under the Home Ministry.
Ayob said those detained under police supervision or behind bars were made to undergo counselling and rehabilitation provided by the E8 division.
“This rehabilitation programme is designed according to individual laws. For instance, from 2015 to June this year, there had been 97 programmes for Poca detainees, 27 for Pota and 11 for those under Sosma,” he said.
According to Bukit Aman’s Poca records, more than 400 individuals had been subjected to action under Sosma for being part of organised crime syndicates.
Poca had undergone amendments to make it more effective in preventing activities of criminals, secret society members, terrorists and other undesirable persons.
Ayob said by applying Section 130 V of the Penal Code for being a member of an organised criminal group and Section 130 W of the same Act gave police time and allowance to bring to justice, a whole network of criminals.
“This is because crimes and offences committed by organised crime groups in the country are considered as a threat to the security and is detrimental to public order,” he said.