Police Commissioner takes action over failure to accept report in slap incident

SABAH Police Commissioner Datuk Jauteh Dikun has confirmed that disciplinary action will be taken against a District Police Chief (KPD) for failing to ensure that an officer received a police report from a woman who claimed to have been slapped.

The incident, which has gained widespread attention, has raised concerns over the police's handling of such reports.

In a press conference at the Sabah Police Contingent Headquarters (IPK) in Kota Kinabalu on Tuesday, Jauteh Dikun stated, "Not only will the officer who failed to accept the report be held accountable, but also the District Police Chief and the Police Station Chief, as they failed to relay the necessary instructions to their subordinates."

This development follows allegations that a woman was slapped by an individual, and despite her efforts to file a report, no action was taken by the authorities.

The Commissioner emphasised that clear instructions had been issued previously, stating that all police stations must accept reports from complainants, regardless of the nature of the complaint.

“We have repeatedly reminded all police personnel that any individual who files a report must have it received by the police. Whether it is a criminal case or not, every complaint must be accepted first, and only then will it be classified to determine if there are criminal elements involved or if it pertains to the correct jurisdiction," Jauteh Dikun added.

Earlier reports from Sinar Harian revealed that two investigation papers had been opened concerning the case, in which the woman claimed she was slapped during an altercation near Jalan Tun Mustapha on Friday.

The incident, which also went viral on social media, involved a man, believed to be a reckless driver, who had a confrontation with the 28-year-old woman.

Both parties reportedly went to the Labuan Police Station, where the case was referred to the investigation unit.

However, the proposed resolution failed to satisfy the victim.

She later claimed that she had not received any feedback from the police, prompting further investigation into the failure to accept her report.

The police are now conducting a parallel inquiry under the Public Officers (Conduct and Discipline) Regulations 1993 for the failure to act on the woman's report. – March 26, 2025