18 kids among those detained at illegal rally (NST)

NST – 12 November 2007
KUALA LUMPUR: Police were appalled at the presence of children at Saturday’s rally.
Describing it as a totally irresponsible act on the part of parents, Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Zulhasnan Najib Baharudin said the children were exposed to danger.

“They should have been at home. But there they were, among the adults, in the heavy rain.”
At least 18 children were detained by police along with their parents for failing to disperse despite being ordered to do so.
One of those detained was a 6-year-old who was picked up along with her parents. The total number of detainees was 245. Their ages were between 6 and 55.
They are being investigated for taking part in an illegal assembly and face a jail sentence of not more than one year, and fine of between RM2,000 and RM10,000, upon conviction.
The detainees were released after their statements were taken.
Kuala Lumpur CID chief Senior Assistant Commissioner II Ku Chin Wah said it was sad that 18 of the detainees were underaged.
Ku said 53 demonstrators were picked up at various locations in the city during the rally while 192 others were detained while entering the city since Friday night.
Police had stopped seven buses from the east coast.
He said they were detained after police found yellow T-shirts and bandannas in the buses.
Ku said there were also five reports lodged at Dang Wangi police station alleging police brutality.
Police, however, maintained that they had acted according to procedure.
“We were patient. The men handled the situation professionally,” he said.