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Maria, who was among 14 detained by police on Nov 18 in a swoop hours before the Bersih 5 rally in Kuala Lumpur, spent 10 days being detained at an unknown location.
Police later announced that the activist was being investigated under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma), which normally deals with terrorism-linked offences.
Police claimed they had obtained a document that led them to believe that she could be involved in activities detrimental to parliamentary democracy in Malaysia, an offence under Section 124(c) of the Penal Code.
Supporters have been thronging Dataran Merdeka since her detention for candlelight vigils demanding her release
Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) executive director Eric Paulsen told FMT that Maria was released at 4.30pm.
Eric added that Maria was accompanied by prominent lawyer Ambiga Sreenevasan in a car and she was on her way back to see her family in Petaling Jaya.
“She will spend some time with her family.
“Tonight, she will speak at Dataran Merdeka, where the last candlelight vigil will be held by her supporters.”
He regarded Maria’s release as a huge victory and thanked the public for their unwavering support.
“We all know that Maria and Bersih shouldn’t have been investigated under Sosma. This is an exaggerated charge and I think the authorities knew it all this while.
“Thanks for the support from Malaysians, local and international NGOs for voicing out our concerns.”
Eric said Maria was set to attend a habeas corpus hearing tomorrow at the High Court in the KL court complex in Jalan Duta.
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