PETALING JAYA: Activist lawyer Siti Kasim has been arrested by police for helping a woman escape the clutches of her mother.
Siti was arrested on Saturday night after police barged into her house and detained the woman, her client.
The arrest, which was broadcasted on Facebook live and went viral, was initially thought to have been due to kidnapping but was later denied.
Selangor CID chief Senior Asst Comm Fadzil Ahmat said that the arrest was not due to kidnapping but only for obstructing police.
“She was arrested under Section 186 of the Penal Code for obstructing a public servant in the discharge of his duties,” he said when contacted after the video went viral.
According to Siti on a Facebook post, the client, who is an adult, had tried to leave her mother.
But the mother lodged a police report claiming that her daughter was mentally unstable and that her aqidah (faith) was in question.
Siti also claimed that the client was then “abducted” by police and the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS).
The client is said to have moved out of her parents' house to escape her "controlling" mother who allegedly strangled her.
She was questioned by JAIS before being taken to Hospital Kajang for a mental health assessment, and was released thereafter.
She has been staying with Siti since she was released.
PETALING JAYA: The police had acted on activist lawyer Siti Kasim and a woman based on a report by the woman's mother, said Selangor CID chief Senior Asst Comm Fadzil Ahmat (pic).
"This follows a report made by the victim's mother on June 21 that stated that her daughter had been taken away by Siti when she had been undergoing a psychiatrist's exam at the Kajang hospital," said SAC Fadzil.
He added when contacted on Sunday (June 24) that the police had also lodged a report as there was an incident when Siti had tried to enter the examination room despite being stopped by a security guard.
He said that the reports led to the case being classified under Section 363 and 186 of the Penal Code, for kidnapping and obstructing a public servant.
SAC Fadzil said that follow-up investigations led to the arrest on Saturday (June 23) night after the police had received information regarding the woman's whereabouts.
"The victim refused to cooperate and has locked herself in the room. Because of this, the police had to force their way in to ensure she did not injure herself and others," he said.
SAC Fadzil said that the woman has been sent back to the hospital to resume the earlier exam which had been halted.
"The investigating officer will also get a decision from her doctor," he added
SAC Fadzil reiterated that Siti Kassim's arrest earlier was made under Section 186 of the Penal Code for obstructing a public servant in the discharge of his duties.
"Siti has been apprehended at the Kajang police headquarters under Section 186 for obstructing a public servant on duty. A remand order will be obtained," he said.
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Activist lawyer Siti Kasim arrested
KAJANG: Activist lawyer Siti Kassim has been brought to the Kajang magistrate’s court for remand proceedings on Sunday (June 24) morning.
Clad in the orange lock-up clothing, Siti was handcuffed and escorted by five policemen.
A group of lawyers are currently at the courthouse.
Also present in solidarity with her are activist and lawyer Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan and Petaling Jaya MP Maria Chin Abdullah.
She was arrested on Saturday (June 23) night when helping a woman escape from her mother.
Earlier, Selangor CID chief Senior Asst Comm had said that police acted on both women based on a report by the woman’s mother.
"This follows a report made by the victim's mother on June 21 that stated that her daughter had been taken away by Siti when she had been undergoing a psychiatrist's exam at the Kajang hospital," SAC Fadzil said.
Siti was arrested after police barged into her house and detained the woman, who is her client.
Her arrest was made under Section 186 of the Penal Code for obstructing a public servant in the discharge of his duties.
According to a Facebook post by Siti, her client is an adult who had tried to leave her mother.
Her mother had lodged a police report claiming that her daughter was mentally unstable and that her aqidah (faith) was in question.
Siti had claimed that the client was then “abducted” by police and the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS).
The client is said to have moved out of her parents' house to escape her "controlling" mother who allegedly strangled her.
She was questioned by JAIS before being taken to Hospital Kajang for a mental health assessment and was released thereafter.
She has been staying with Siti since she was released.
Related stories:
Activist lawyer Siti Kasim arrested
Selangor CID chief: Police acted on woman, Siti Kasim based on mother's report
UPDATED 10AM | Lawyer and activist Siti Kasim has been arrested for obstructing a public servant from discharging his duties after police had taken away a woman she had been sheltering at her home.
The arrest, broadcast on Facebook live, is allegedly in regards to one of Siti's clients.
The lawyer is accused of forcibly locking up the client at the former's home and it was initially thought that Siti was also arrested for suspicions of kidnapping her own client...
