Hanif disappointed with poor witness turnout

The dismal number of witnesses who have turned up to testify before the special panel investigating the April 28 Bersih 3.0 rally has left its chairperson Hanif Omar disappointed.

"Although there have been many claims of violence, (the number of) those who came forward as witnesses is very disappointing," he told Malay language daily Sinar Harian at Kelab Sultan Sulaiman yesterday.

Hanif said the panel has so far heard from eight witnesses, including an editor with theSun, R Nadeswaran.

The panel has been facing public opposition over the statements Hanif has made against the rally prior to the panel beginning its work.

Hanif said one of the witnesses claimed to have seen police rough up demonstrators while taking them to the holding centre at the Royal Selangor Club, with one demonstrator spotted to be covered in blood.

He said the panel has also called police officers who were on duty to testify and that "police will take disciplinary action against personnel who acted violently during the rally".

On the inquiry into violence during the rally being conducted by the National Human Rights Commission (Suhakam), Sinar Harian reported that Suhakam was told by a witness that he was "punched and kicked repeatedly" by a group of policemen.

"Each took their turn to hit me twice," Suhaimi Suratnam testified, adding that he was further assaulted while in a police truck on the way to the police training centre (Pulapol), where the detainees were held.