Ramkarpal: No need to hold LTTE suspects anymore as probe completed

Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh (above) said there is no need to continue detaining 12 people suspected of links with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) as the investigation has concluded.

He noted that Bukit Aman Special Branch counter-terrorism division principal assistant director Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay had confirmed that the investigation papers have been submitted to the Attorney-General's Chambers.

"In light of the above, there is no need for the detainees to be further detained, although they have been remanded for a period of 28 days under Sosma," he said in a statement today.

In the event the attorney-general decides to charge them, Ramkarpal also urged that they be granted bail.

"No doubt, they can be charged for an offence under the Penal Code read with Sosma, whereby bail can be refused.

"I, however, urge the attorney-general to charge them in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Code and offer them bail if he is of the view that there is sufficient evidence against them, as refusing them bail serves no useful purpose as they are only suspected of committing an offence at this stage.

"Furthermore, two of the said detainees are elected representatives and denying them bail pending trial would result in them being unable to serve their constituents," he said.

Ramkarpal, who is a lawyer, reiterated his call for Sosma to be repealed.

Those who were detained under Sosma include former and current members of DAP, PKR and PAS.

They also include DAP's Seremban Jaya assemblyperson P Gunasekaran and Gadek assemblyperson G Saminathan.

The LTTE, which fought against the Sri Lankan government for the independence of its Tamil-majority region, was defeated in 2009.

The Tamil cause in Sri Lanka receives sympathy from the Tamil diaspora, but the LTTE is considered by Malaysia to be a terrorist organisation.