It said an officer had been accused of coercing a female suspect into having oral sex during interrogation at the police station.

“This allegation has raised doubts as to whether the police force has any guidelines on handling female suspects being interrogated during investigations,” it said in a statement today.

EDICT claimed this was not an isolated incident.

“EDICT hereby demands that the inspector-general of police (IGP) as well as the home minister immediately issue a statement detailing the steps taken by the police force to ensure such cases do not recur,” it said.

EDICT said cases of sexual misconduct, abuse of power, neglect of duty and negligence would not help build up public confidence in the force.

EDICT advised the government against delaying the establishment of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC), as proposed by the Royal Commission to Enhance the Operation and Management of the Royal Malaysia Police in 2005.

“EDICT believes that only through the establishment of the IPCMC will the public’s confidence in the police force be restored.”

On Dec 18, a 36-year-old woman detainee claimed a policeman forced her to perform oral sex on him at the Serdang police station while they were alone in a room.

In her police report, the woman claimed the policeman took her to the room after she had given her statement, removed her handcuffs, and ordered her to perform the act. She was sent back to the lock-up after the incident and warned not to talk about it.

Selangor police chief Arjunaidi Mohamed said there were no cameras in the room, adding that investigations were underway.

He said the woman and her husband were suspects in a robbery case and were being held on remand.