Jais under fire for wrongful arrest, abuse of power

PETALING JAYA - The Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) is under fire again for alleged "abuse of power" and "wrongful arrest" of three women and a man for close-proximity (khalwat) while they were shifting house last month.

The four, two of whom are students, have denied committing the offence and have taken Jais officers to task for wrongfully arresting them and demanding RM3,000 each, which is a maximum fine for the offence.

Upon seeking legal advise, they demanded that Jais withdraw the charge immediately and apologise for the shame its officers have caused them.

Hanisha Abd Rahman, 29, and two of her housemates who wished to only be named as Idah, 19, and Siti, 21, were hauled up for close-proximity with Muhammad Mukamil, 22, who was their transporter at the trio's new residence at Salak Tinggi.

Hanisah said the three of them were cleaning the house upon arriving home from work, while Muhammad Mukamil, who is an airport limo driver, was standing outside the house when two Jais officers arrived at the location.

"How can this be khalwat? Muhammad Mukamil sends and fetches us from work at KLIA2 everyday.

"He came to help us shift and clean that time and when the Jais officers came, he was standing outside the gate," she told a press conference at the Lawyers for Liberty office today.

Hanisah said two officers, Alfian Ahmad and Mohd Zulfadli Mohd Noor, demanded for their identity cards upon arriving, said they were being arrested for Khalwat and asked them to go to the police station.

Lawyer Latheefa Koya, also present at the press conference, said Hanisah has lodged a police report against two Jais officers for the wrongful arrest and abuse of power demanding a fine of RM3,000 each, before they were even convicted.

"We demand Jais to withdraw the charge and apologise, failing which we will file a legal suit against Jais," she said.

Sun Daily