(July 15): The lawyer of the two suspects detained in connection with the theft and brawl at Low Yat Plaza over the weekend had bad intentions when he slammed the police for statements made over the arrests, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said today.

"Those detained will say anything to get off the hook. If the people want to trust those who had been tested postive for drug abuse, then go ahead," said Khalid.

He said the suspects' lawyer Mohd Khairul Azam Abdul Aziz has other intentions in highlighting his client's denials.

"The lawyer has other intentions... bad intention," said Khalid.

Khairul yesterday accused Khalid of being a liar for accusing one of the suspects for spreading false information online, which led to the brawl in Bukit Bintang on Sunday night.

Khairul said Khalid should not be making such accusations against his client as they were untrue.

"This is a lie by IGP that prejudiced my client," said Khairul.

Khairul and his team were also representing Shahrul Anuar Abdul Aziz, who was charged with the mobile phone theft, which led to the ruckus on Sunday.

Khalid had reportedly said that Shahrul Anuar's friend, who was detained with him and later released, had spread rumours claiming that his friend was cheated by a mobile phone dealer at Low Yat Plaza.

Khairul said he spent two days with his client who said he never made any press statements or contacted anyone to say that the mobile phone purchased was a clone after he was released by police on Saturday.

Khairul said as the IGP, Khalid should not be making such statements, accusing his clients of stealing and spreading rumours.

Following that incident, a group comprising Malay NGOs gathered in front of Low Yat Plaza on Sunday night to protest the arrest, after being fed online with the story that the mobile phone dealer had sold Shahrul Anuar a cloned unit.

The gathering turned unruly when fistfights broke out, injuring seven people.

Police have so far detained 25 people for rioting, sedition and theft to facilitate investigations into the case.

The latest arrest was made  last night when police arrested blogger Papagomo for spreading lies that led to Low Yat brawl.

Police early yesterday arrested Mohd Ali Baharom better known as Ali Tinju for making an incendiary speech to the crowd outside Low Yat Plaza on Sunday night. He is detained under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act. He has been remanded four days to facilitate police investigation. – The Malaysian Insider