No witnesses, so errant cop off the hook
The police have identified a police personnel who during the July 9 Bersih 2.0 rally allegedly used out excessive force on demonstrators.
The police have identified a police personnel who during the July 9 Bersih 2.0 rally allegedly used out excessive force on demonstrators.
Contacted yesterday, Kuala Lumpur CID chief Ku Chin Wah said that a police report was lodged against the errant officer - who was wearing a bandana across his face during the rally - but no prosecution will take place.
"The matter has been referred to the Attorney-General's Chambers and no further action could be taken against him due to the absence of witnesses," he told Malaysiakini .
He said police carried out investigations under Section 352 of the Penal Code which stipulates "assault or use of criminal force otherwise than on grave provocation" as an offence.
Under this law, an offender can be jailed up to one year, fined up to RM2,000 ringgit or both.
However, the errant officer will be subject to disciplinary action for breach of standard operating procedure (SOP) while dispersing the crowd.
Following the rally, photographs and videos of alleged police misuse of force flooded the Internet, particularly on popular social networking website Facebook .
One photograph showed a police personnel holding a pair of handcuffs in his fist with his face covered by a large handkerchief, or bandana.
No name, number
It was pointed out by some
Facebook
users that the police personnel depicted did not have a name or number embroidered on his uniform.
Videos which surfaced on video-sharing website YouTube later showed what appeared to be the same person punching a detainee twice on the abdomen.
The assailant appeared to have done so unprovoked.
It is uncertain if this individual is the same person mentioned by Ku.
It is also uncertain if this individual is the same person who will be facing disciplinary action as mentioned by Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein yesterday over the Tung Shin Hospital incident.
On Monday, the Home Ministry said that police personnel who had breached standard operating procedures in dispersing protestors at Tung Shin will face disciplinary action.
This follows a Health Ministry probe that confirmed the firing of water cannons and lobbing a "smoke bomb" at the Tung Shin compound and the adjacent Chinese Maternity Hospital respectively.
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Just one culprit? What about his bosses?
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