Counsel for elderly dog carer in MBPJ scuffle mulls appeal to AGC

PETALING JAYA – The legal counsel for a senior citizen charged with obstructing a Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) officer from performing his duties will seek to have the charges dropped by the authorities.

Speaking to reporters at the court complex here today, lawyer Rajsurian Pillai said that his team will consider appealing to the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) for the dropping of the charges against Patrick Khoo Khian Wui, 69.

“We haven’t fully strategised (our action plan) yet since today’s focus was on getting Uncle (Khoo) out on bail.

“Perhaps after this, we will strategise whether to write to the AGC seeking for the charges to be dropped (or) write to anyone else to get assistance on the matter,” he said.

He also noted that the counsel will request for deputy public prosecutor (DPP) Farhanah Fuad to reconsider the charges and drop the case as a whole.

“We don’t see that Uncle (Khoo) should be charged.

“Of course, we are biased because we are the defence team, but we will see what the DPP decides,” he said.

When asked whether civil action will be taken against the officer for allegedly causing injury to Khoo during the incident, Rajsurian said that there is no hurry to resort to such measures.

“I am only dealing with the criminal charges for now. Whether or not (Khoo) decides to take civil action is up to him and the discretion of any civil lawyers.

“(A civil lawsuit) cannot be done in a hurry as details could be left out.

“It should also be considered that (Khoo) is 69 years old and not in the best of health. The court process could be stressful for him,” he said.

Rajsurian said this after Khoo pleaded not guilty to the charge framed under Section 186 of the Penal Code for obstructing public servants in the discharge of their functions.

Khoo is alleged to have prevented MBPJ officers from carrying out their duties during a dog-catching operation.

If found guilty, he faces a jail term of up to two years, a maximum fine of RM10,000, or both.

The court compound here saw heavy police presence from as early as 8am, with multiple personnel stationed outside the magistrates’ court where Khoo was charged.

About 10 individuals had also shown up to show their solidarity with Khoo, who is self-employed with one employee under his charge.

Previously, a resident who witnessed the incident had taken to social media to pan the enforcement officers for their alleged heavy-handedness, with videos of the incident sparking outrage among netizens and rights groups.

The altercation saw a scuffle between Khoo and the MBPJ officer, Azizul Azzim Norehan, which resulted in the former suffering a swollen jaw and injuries on his arm.

MBPJ subsequently announced that an internal investigation committee had been set up to probe into the incident.

However, Petaling Jaya district police chief Mohamad Fakhrudin Abdul Hamid said on Wednesday that no charges under Section 323 of the Penal Code will be brought against the officer for his apparent role in the event.

Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung had subsequently expressed his solidarity with Khoo, asserting that the incident “exposed procedural flaws” in MBPJ’s stray animal management. – The Vibes, March 31, 2023