By Meera Vijayan

JOHOR BARU, MALAYSIA: Around 100 detainees of the Air Molek detention centre here became aggressive when warders started confiscating belongings which they were not allowed to have.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said that at least five warders sustained facial and hand injuries in the 5.30pm fracas on Monday.

He said the trouble began when 15 detainees were frisked before being sent to their cells after they had been brought back from court.

"Warders discovered that one remand detainee had a DiGi SIM card and a mobile phone charger.

"The warders also suspected that three other detainees were hiding prohibited materials in their rectum and ordered them to go to the toilet," he said yesterday.

This sparked aggression among another group of detainees nearby who attacked the warders with sharp iron objects.

Syed Hamid said the sirens were then sounded and all detainees were ordered back into their cells, but the fracas worsened when another group of between 80 and 100 detainees armed with sharp iron rods and wood attacked the warders.

"They refused to return to their cells and behaved aggressively," he told The Star.

Syed Hamid said prison officials managed to recover several pieces of wood and iron objects with the assistance of Simpang Renggam prison personnel.

"The situation was brought under control and we have begun investigations and also lodged a police report," he said.

The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) voiced concern about the fracas and the many complaints received about the centre.

Suhakam Commissioner Datuk N. Siva Subramaniam said he would visit the centre on Friday to follow up on complaints over the alleged mistreatment of detainees.

Johor police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff confirmed police had received a report from the Air Molek prison officials.