130 PERSONS WERE CHARGED AT THE MAGISTRATE COURT TODAY BEFORE PUAN MUSALMAH. ALL CLAIMED TRIAL EXCEPT ONE WHO PLEADED GUILTY. THE ONE WHO PLEADED GUILTY WAS FINED RM2000/- (WHICH IS THE MANDATORY MINIMUM SENTENCE).

THE REST WERE ALLOWED BAIL OF RM1000/- WITH ONE SURETY. ABOUT 40 PERSONS WERE SENT TO SUNGAI BULOH PRISON BECAUSE THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY SURETIES. THE POLICE YESTERDAY ASSURED ME THAT THE FAMILY/FRIEND OF ALL DETAINEES WOULD BE CONTACTED AND INFORMED ABOUT THE FACT THAT THEIR LOVED ONE WAS UNDER DETENTION AND WILL BE CHARGED IN COURT TODAY(21/10/98).

HOWEVER , ONLY TODAY WHEN LAWYERS TOOK INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE ACCUSED DID THEY MANAGE TO GET PHONE CONTACTS OF THE FRIENDS/FAMILY OF THE ACCUSED. [NOTE THAT THERE IS NO RIGHT TO ONE PHONE CALL IN MALAYSIA AFTER ARREST].

WITH REGARDS TO THE PHONE CONTACTS OF THE ACCUSED, THE POLICE AGREED TO PROVIDE THE SAME TO LAWYERS BEFORE THE MAGISTRATE DURING THE REMAND (S.117) PROCEEDINGS ON 18.10.98. BUT ALAS, THEY DID NOT DELIVER.

TODAY AT THE COURT, INITIALLY ONLY 6 LAWYERS WERE ALLOWED INTO COURT. THERE WERE 130 ACCUSED, WHO WERE BROUGHT IN TWO BATCHES AND THAT MEANT THAT THESE 6 LAWYERS WERE REQUIRED TO GET INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE WHOLE LOT. ABOUT 20 LAWYERS WERE PRESENT AND READY TO REPRESENT THE ACCUSED BUT ALAS, THE MAJORITY WERE LOCKED OUT FROM COURT.

THE CASE IS NOT FIXED FOR FULL TRIAL THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF MAY, 1999.

BOTH RAJENDRAN DEVARAJ AND STEPHANIE BASTIAN WERE RELEASED FROM POLICE CUSTODY AT ABOUT 8.00PM TODAY (21/10/98) AFTER BAIL REQUIREMENTS WERE COMPLIED WITH.

UPON RELEASE OF THE DETAINEES, THE CROWD CHEERED AND THERE WERE A LOT OF HANDSHAKES AND HUGS. WHEN ALL WERE RELEASED, THE DETAINEES, SURETIES AND FRIENDS GATHERED AROUND AND OFFERED A PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING.

ONE OF THE DETAINEES FAMILY HAD FINANCIAL DIFFICULTY AND COULD NOT RAISE THE RM1000/- FOR THE FATHER ( A 60 YEAR OLD MAN). WHAT WAS MOST TOUCHING WAS THAT AN IMMEDIATE DONATION DRIVE WAS LAUNCHED WHICH LASTED LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES WHICH SAW RM1000/- BEING COLLECTED. THE OLD MAN WOULD ONLY BE RELEASED TOMMOROW (22/10/98) SINCE THE COURT OFFICE PROCESSING THE BAIL WAS CLOSED BY THAT TIME.

ASP TAN, THE COURT SUPERINTENDENT ASSURED FRIENDS OF THE DETAINEES, THAT FOOD WAS BEING PREPARED AND WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR THE 40 DETAINEES WHO WOULD HAVE TO SPEND THE NIGHT AT THE SUNGAI BULOH PRISON. THE DETAINEES HAD NOT EATEN ANYTHING SINCE LUNCH. THE EXPECTED ARRIVAL TIME AT SUNGAI BULOH WAS ABOUT 10.30PM. [INCIDENTLY, ANWAR IBRAHIM IS PRESENTLY BEING DETAINED AT THE SUNGAI BULOH PRISON].