THE suspect in the assault case involving deaf Grab driver Ong Ing Keong must be prosecuted in line with the usual procedures under the Malaysian criminal justice system, Ong’s lawyer N. Surendran said.
Responding to Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain who yesterday claimed that action had been taken against the suspect, Surendran said the matter could not be dealt with as an internal police disciplinary matter.
“This case does not encompass only a police disciplinary matter. It involves an assault and battery captured clearly on video. The victim had suffered pain, injury and emotional trauma.
“This is a criminal offence under the Penal Code, and a prosecution must be instituted in line with the usual procedures under our criminal justice system.
“There is also a strong public interest element as it involves an unprovoked assault by a member of the police force upon a disabled person who was engaged in his daily occupation,” said the former MP.
Razarudin told a Malay daily yesterday that disciplinary action had already been taken against the VVIP escort policeman who was reported to have injured a disabled e-hailing driver in an assault outside The St Regis Kuala Lumpur hotel on May 28.
He added that action was taken immediately after an internal investigation by the Integrity and Standards Compliance Department in early June.
He said policemen with disciplinary problems could be punished with warnings, withholding of salary increments, suspension, and demotion.
“Apart from this, he is also being investigated under Section 323 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt,” he told Berita Harian.
Meanwhile, Surendran urged the attorney general and the police to ensure the offender faced the appropriate criminal charges.
“The video evidence is available, and the identity of the suspect is known to the police; there is no reason for any further delay in delivering justice for Ong Ing Keong,” he said.
On Wednesday, Lawyers for Liberty released a dashcam video of Ong being assaulted by someone believed to be the security escort of a VIP.
Surendran said the attacker had yet to be penalised despite police claims that the investigation papers had been submitted to the Attorney General’s Chambers.
In the 90-second video, Ong Ing Keong can be seen behind the wheel of his car waiting for his passenger to put a bag into the boot. A man in a suit knocks on the car window, ordering him to move the vehicle. The driver uses sign language to tell the man that he is waiting for the passenger. A few seconds later, another man in a suit appears and punches Ong. – August 15, 2024.
