Police raid office of NGO involved in Bersih rally

The Star
by STEVEN DANIEL

PETALING JAYA: Police raided the office of a non-governmental organisation (NGO) here Wednesday for alleged involvement in the Opposition-initiated Bersih rally planned for July 9.

The NGO, named Empower, is said to be one of the secretariat committee members for Bersih.

Seven staff members and volunteers were taken in for questioning.

More than a dozen policemen arrived at the single-storey house located along Jalan 4/48e around noon and demanded to enter the premises.

"They did not provide any search warrant and warned they would break open the gates if they (the occupants) did not open the door," said, said PKR leader and lawyer Lateefa Koya when met at the scene.

She said the raid was led by a police officer who proceeded to inspect all the rooms of the building.

"The police seized several items, including some leaflets and paraphernalia that was meant for the Bersih rally," she said, adding that she had not received the list of items seized.

Meanwhile, Selangor police chief Datuk Tun Hisan when contacted confirmed the raid.

"We received information that the premises was conducting illegal activities.

"Upon monitoring the location, our intelligence proved right and a team raided the premises," he said.

He said police found hundreds of Bersih T-shirts, logos and emblems during the raid.

He added that police were investigating the matter under Section 50(3) of the Organisation Act as the premises was not registered.