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KUALA LUMPUR – Police have reclassified the case of harassment and assault against The Vibes’ reporters, days after it was initially classified as a case to “refer to the magistrate” for lack of criminal elements.
Kuala Lumpur Criminal Investigations Department (CID) chief Habibi Majinji told The Vibes that he made the decision to reclassify the investigations after personally going over the facts of the case.
He said the case would now be investigated under Section 160 of the Penal Code which relates to offences involving those committing affray or causing a commotion.
“Yes, the case was previously classified as ‘refer to magistrate’, but after I had a look at the facts of the case, I instructed for it to be reclassified. To me, there were elements that warranted an initial investigation under Section 160 (of the Penal Code) at this point.
“We will have to investigate to find out which side is at fault, if there are any criminal elements, as both parties have come forward to lodge police reports,” he said when contacted.
Habibi added that those involved, including witnesses of the incident, will be called in to have their statements recorded.
These developments by the city CID chief come less than 48 hours after Habibi’s subordinate and Dang Wangi district police chief Noor Dellhan Yahaya told The Vibes that police had all but concluded there were no criminal elements in the case.
Curiously, Noor Dellhan’s statement had come just less than an hour after reporters Qistina Nadia Dzulqarnain and Lancelot Theseira had finished giving their statements to police on Saturday evening.
The assault against the duo took place on Saturday morning when they visited the Pudu Urban Transformation Centre (UTC) to probe complaints of long queues at the Immigration Department counters by those looking to renew their travel documents.
During this visit, they were threatened and harassed by a security guard on duty at the immigration section.
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— TheVibes.com (@thevibesnews) May 14, 2022
Two reporters from The Vibes were subjected to a barrage of verbal intimidation and threats at the @imigresenmy office in UTC Pudu today.
The guard is heard yelling "This is UTC! Do you understand?! Get out!" despite the reporters identifying themselves as media. pic.twitter.com/IIGTFJBxYG
The reporters were also told that they could not take pictures nor speak to those standing in line along the corridors without formal approval.
A video of the incident has since gone viral on social media, triggering reactions from media rights groups and politicians decrying the abuse against Qistina and Theseira, while calling for laws to protect journalists in the field.
Retired servicemen’s group National Patriot Association had also chimed in, urging the government to move away from its practice of engaging contracted privatised security guard services following the incident. – The Vibes, May 16, 2022
