Police have categorically denied claims made in notes detailing torture of detainees currently held under the Internal Security Act.
The detainees never made any complaint of torture, nor has any doctor made reports of injuries after the weekly medical check-ups carried out by doctors from Hospital Kuala Lumpur, police spokesperson Ramli Yoosuf said today.
"(We) believe the claims that detainees were tortured while held by the special branch are baseless and malicious, done with the intention of smearing the image and reputation of the police and special branch.
"It is believed that the detainees (by leaking the notes) are trying to reap publicity and public sympathy, in the hope of being released early under the repealed Internal Security Act 1960," Ramli said.
However, he noted, if the detainees insisted that their claims were true, they should present evidence that is admissible in court.
Malaysiakini on Monday reported on harrowing accounts of torture emerging from the those held at the Kamunting detention camp (also known as Taiping Detention Camp or Kemta) through notes smuggled out of the camp.
The notes detail the experiences of detainees, all named, along with their detention numbers, during the 60-day remand period at police remand centres prior to being sent to the detention camp.
Responding to this, Ramli said that the authorities have no record of torture taking place "during the remand period at the Kamunting detention camp".
Asked whether police meant the period when detainees were held at remand centres, at undisclosed locations, Ramli just reiterated that the claims in the notes "are baseless".
'Advisory panel never informed of torture'
"Each detainee undergoes weekly checks by a doctor from Hospital Kuala Lumpur. (They) will receive treatment for any disease or physical injury and these will be recorded by the doctors.
"In fact, the doctor will also give warnings (to the camp officers) to provide appropriate diets for those who suffer from diabetes and high blood pressure... no report has been made of abuse or bodily injuries," Ramli said.
He said detainees were also able to make representations to the advisory panel, where they could make appeals or complaints about their detention.
The advisory panel's decisions would depend on "recorded conversations between the detainees and police" and that the panel would "reject any confession" extracted through coercion or any illegal method.
"In all panel hearings, the detainees had confessed to their charges and none of them had complained of being abused," Ramli added.
According to the notes, the detainees were said to be treated for their injuries by a government doctor.
The notes also state that there are records of the detainees' injuries at the detention camp clinic, hospitals in Kuala Lumpur and in Perak, as well as at mental health facilities where the detainees were sent for assessment of trauma.
A total of 45 detainees are still being held under the ISA, which will be repealed once the new Security Offences (Special Measures) Bill 2012, which has been passed by Parliament, is gazetted.
They have been detained for alleged involvement in human trafficking, terrorism and falsifying documents and will need to serve out the remainder of the detention orders, despite the repeal of the ISA.
The last detainee is expected to be released in 2014.