Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng has urged the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) to charge a police escort personnel who allegedly assaulted a deaf e-hailing driver at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur.
“This police assault was caught on camera, making it a pretty clear-cut case. So, what’s taking so long?
Bernama
“It’s been three months and the AG still hasn’t decided whether to charge the officer with assault. What’s the holdup?” he said in a statement today.
Lim also raised concerns about Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain’s grasp of the double jeopardy principle and asked the AGC to clarify the IGP’s usage of it in justifying the lack of disciplinary measures taken against the police personnel.
He echoed the stance of lawyer N Surendran who cited Article 7(2) of the Constitution, which prohibits prosecuting an individual twice for the same offence.
Lim emphasised that this provision applies exclusively to criminal proceedings and not to internal disciplinary inquiries within the police force.
“It is hard to accept that Razarudin was unaware of the double jeopardy principle,” the MP stated, expressing concern that such a lack of understanding could indicate broader issues with legal proficiency among police personnel.
Yesterday, it was reported that Razarudin said the police officer who allegedly assaulted deaf e-hailing driver Ong Ing Keong had been disciplined, but not for the case. Instead, it was over the officer’s failure to declare assets.
Razarudin clarified that it would be double jeopardy if the officer was reprimanded internally as the latter is being investigated under Section 323 of the Penal Code for causing voluntary hurt.
His statement came following a Berita Harian report saying that the officer had been disciplined via internal investigation.
Lim called on the IGP to publicly clarify his statements regarding the application of double jeopardy in the context of the disciplinary proceedings.
“It is essential for the IGP to uphold the integrity and credibility of the police force.
“He must address this matter transparently, rather than hiding behind the double jeopardy argument to obfuscate the investigation into allegations of police misconduct,” Lim asserted.
This development came amid ongoing public scrutiny of police conduct and calls for greater accountability within law enforcement agencies.
In May, Ong lodged a report alleging that a police personnel escorting Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim had assaulted him outside a hotel in Kuala Lumpur.
On Aug 14, Ong and his lawyers released a video of the incident while lamenting the lack of progress in getting justice. – Malaysiakini