FAC News - Tuesday, February 26, 2002 3:50 PM

THE ISA HABEAS CORPUS APPEAL HEARING – Day 2 – ISA detainees not allowed legal counsel

The Kuala Lumpur Federal Court was told today that Internal Security Act (ISA) detainees need not be allowed access to legal counsel.

The prosecution was replying to the defence counsel’s argument that the four ISA detainees and one ex-detainee applying to get their arrest and detention declared illegal were denied access to legal counsel and therefore their detention was illegal.

The prosecution did not deny that the detainees were denied legal counsel but said that this is what the law provides for. ISA detainees have no right to legal counsel under the Act explained the prosecution.