Datuk Seri in Rela Assault Case Surrenders in Grand Style

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Amidst calls to have his title revoked and the allegation that he tried to buy off the three Rela victims he assaulted with RM10,000, the suspect surrendered himself to the police today, reportedly arriving in a Bentley and accompanied by an entourage of 10 people and a lawyer.

  • Datuk Seri parked his Toyota Vellfire right outside temple
  • Rela personnel spoke to Datuk Seri’s driver about the car causing traffic congestion
  • Datuk Seri proceeded to berate and assault three Rela men allegedly for showing him no respect
  • Assailant allegedly had 20 bodyguards with him during the incident
  • DPM urged suspect to surrender as police knew his identity
  • Calls to revoke Datuk Seri’s title
  • Through middlemen, suspect allegedly tried to bribe the three victims with RM10k each to withdraw their police report
  • Suspect insisted to meet Rela director-general or he allegedly threatened to hurt any Rela member he met
  • Rela honorary member Michael Chong went to meet suspect but he was nowhere to be found
  • Suspect surrendered to police

The 29-year-old Datuk Seri arrived at the Ampang district police headquarters at about 4pm today.

He is expected to spend the night in detention and be remanded at the Ampang magistrate’s court tomorrow.

The police are investigating the case under Section 186 of the Penal Code for obstructing a public servant in the discharge of his duties, and Section 324 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt by using dangerous weapons or means.

The man who was recorded assaulting three Rela members on Oct 27 courted more controversy for allegedly offering the victims RM10,000 each to withdraw their police report.

Rela director-general Zulkifli Abidin claimed that the Datuk Seri had instructed a middleman to call the trio’s platoon leader to make the offer on Sunday.

Platoon leader Ho Hoong Keong, 56, declined to accept the offer.

“We will not be intimidated and will do no such thing. If he committed the crime, he should be prepared to face the consequences,” Zulkifli said.

He was speaking at a ceremony to present certificates of commendation to the trio – Ranbo Lee Weng Poh, 27, Jackie Leong Jiun Jie, 21, and Melvin Cheong Mun Khai, 19.

Zulkifli revealed that the suspect had also asked to meet with him and threatened to hurt any Rela member he meets if Zulkifli failed to show up.

“However, when we sent our honorary member, Datuk Seri Michael Chong to meet him, he was nowhere to be found,” he was quoted as saying by The Star Online.

It is believed the three Rela members will lodge a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for the alleged bribe offer.

On Friday, the trio were on security duty during a religious ceremony at Kout Ong Yah temple in Kampung Baru Ampang when they were berated and roughed up by the Datuk Seri for allegedly not giving him the “respect” he was expecting.

In the 6.30am incident, one of the three had told the Datuk Seri that his Toyota Vellfire, which was parked right in front of the temple, was causing traffic congestion.

However, this eventually led to him and two other members who came forward to defuse the situation, to be assaulted. The trio did not fight back.

They made a police report at the Ampang police station before heading to a nearby hospital for treatment.

MCA Public Services and Com­plaints Department chief and Rela honorary deputy commissioner Datuk Seri Michael Chong, who brought the issue to light on Saturday, said the three had earlier spoken to the man’s driver but the Datuk Seri proceeded to attack them.

Chong revealed that the Datuk Seri had 20 bodyguards with him during the incident.

He added that Rela has appointed two lawyers to handle the case.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said police know who the man is and advised him to give himself up as soon as possible.

“I would like to stress that everyone, regardless if you have a title or not, is accountable to the law.

“Having a title is not a licence to behave in such a way,” he told reporters yesterday.

The Council of Federal Datuks president Tan Sri Danny Ooi said if the suspect was awarded the Datuk Seri title, it should be revoked by the Ruler who bestowed it.

Ooi said any individual with good standing and holding a title should not resort to such actions.

“They must respect people in uniform.

“I hope if this news goes back to the Ruler who awarded the title, it should be taken away from the man,” Ooi told a press conference during the council’s anniversary charity dinner.

He explained that the man was not a member of the council.

“Our members are those conferred titles by the King at federal level,” he said.

He added that although the conferment of datukship titles falls under the jurisdiction of the Sultans and Governors, the recipients should go through stringent vetting of their background.

“I believe this has already been put in place and it is up to the state governments to carry out all the necessary checks,” he said.

Ooi also said that the council would be meeting the police over the problem of conferment of dubious titles from unrecognised institutions.

“We hope the police can set up a hotline so that the public can give a tip-off whenever they identify those found using fake titles,” he said.

In a statement, Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation senior vice-chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said a person with an honorific title bestowed on him should always act with decorum and respect.

“Irrespective of the circumstances, it does not justify the use of violence,” he added.


Earlier report: Oct 28, “Datuk Seri” Beats Up Rela Men for Showing Him No Respect