Setting criminals free
IT is always good to read about our police arresting or busting various group of gangsters and syndicates of thieves involved in various crimes.
Words of well done, congratulations and kudos to our men in blue are in order for making our living environment a safer place.
We, the rakyat, expect that all those arrested will be charged in court and eventually put behind bars.
Unfortunately, this is not the case in most instances because not all arrested can be linked to the offences directly (evidence-wise) hence, they cannot be charged and have to be released even though they are definitely involved according to hearsay evident from their accomplices.
The release of these accomplices has its repercussions. Firstly, if they appreciate the opportunity of being released and turn over a new leaf it would be well and good, otherwise, they may become wiser, more elusive and more dangerous criminals.
Secondly, the police would be alleged to be corrupt for releasing these suspects.
Unfortunately, there are menaces and morons in our society who live by collecting money from the loved ones of those released suspects by claiming that it is to pay the police!
Prior to the repeal of the Emergency Act, those criminals, who cannot be charged in court due to lack of admissible evidence, but with sufficient hearsay evidence, would be incarcerated in a rehabilitation centre as a form of crime prevention.
It must be realised that there are many grey areas in crime-fighting which can result in direct admissible evidence turning to inadmissible or non-existent evidence.
For example, witnesses to a commission of a confrontational and violent crime, would only give evidence provided they are not required to go to court for obvious reasons.
The repeal of the Emergency Act was welcomed by various groups of people who have their own motives and stood by their allegation that the Act was used to abuse human rights.
But they never highlighted that there were provisions in the Act which allowed for judiciary redress in case of it being abused.
If we, the rakyat, wish and hope to have a safer living environment especially now, we should demand that our lawmakers bring back the legislation for the purpose of crime prevention and at the same time reminding those who were against the Act that human rights should only be accorded to victims of crime and not the perpetrators! DATUK KHOO AH SEE Shah Alam