14-8-2024 (KUALA LUMPUR) The Royal Malaysia Police has taken disciplinary action against an officer from the Johor regent’s police escort team. The officer stands accused of assaulting a disabled e-hailing driver at a local hotel on 28 May, according to a statement from Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain.
The incident, which has sparked considerable public interest, came to light following an internal investigation conducted by the integrity and standards compliance department of Bukit Aman in early June. IGP Razarudin revealed that the officer is now under scrutiny for voluntarily causing hurt, an offence that falls under Section 323 of the Penal Code.
“We have resubmitted the investigation papers to the deputy public prosecutor’s office on 22 July after receiving additional instructions regarding the probe,” Razarudin stated, addressing concerns about the pace of the investigation.
The case gained renewed attention when N Surendran, the lawyer representing the victim, Ong Ing Keong, held a press conference questioning the apparent lack of action by both the police and the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC). Surendran pointed out that more than two months had elapsed since the incident without any visible progress in the case.
Ong, who is deaf and mute, reportedly filed a police report on the day of the alleged assault and provided his statement to the authorities on 5 June. The victim’s disabilities have added a layer of complexity to the case, raising questions about accessibility and fair treatment within the justice system.
IGP Razarudin had previously disclosed that police had gathered statements from approximately twelve individuals as part of their investigation. He also confirmed that the investigation papers had been referred to the AGC for further action.
The case has drawn the attention of high-ranking officials, including the Johor regent, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim. The regent has publicly urged the police to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident, emphasising that he does not condone any form of illegal action or intimidation. Tunku Ismail has also called for justice to be served for the victim.
