Three brothers file report over police brutality

Handcuffed, assaulted and asked to pay a bribe of RM150 for a traffic violation

KUALA LUMPUR: Three brothers lodged separate police reports against police after they were allegedly beaten up while hancuffed and asked to pay a bribe to settle a traffic offence.

M Gunasegaran, 22, M Thenes, 20 and M Magendran 15 lodged their reports at the Tanjung Malim Police station in Perak after the incident.

Gunasegaran, a wireman, said that on Sept 4, he was on his way to buy groceries at a shop not far from his home when he was stopped by a police officer for not wearing a helmet.

“I was not carrying the necessary documents when I was stopped and offered to show it to the officer if he allowed me retrive them from my home.

“He then took me to my house and having found that I did not have a valid driving license, he began using abusive language on me and called for back up,” said Gunasegaran.

Four plainclothes officers arrived soon after and arrested Gunasegaran, his youngest brother Magendran and a relative, Surish Kumar, who was visiting his family.

“They beat me and my brother, a student, and arrested all of us, including my relative who was at home during the incident,” he said.

At the police station, Gunasegaran alleged that police officers taped their eyes shut and started punching and kicking them. They also choked them with a rubber hose.

Thenes, the younger brother of Gunasegaran said he rushed to the station after learning of his brothers’ arrest.

“An officer in uniform told me that my brother had broken the law and said that he would have to pay RM2,500 if they hauled him to court,” said Thenes.

“The officer then offered to release all of them if I paid RM150. I had no choice but to pay up the money demanded by him,” he added.

Gunasegaran said he made a police report at the station over the incident and is planning to take legal action.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Tamil Students Progressive Association president MS Arjunan described the police action as disgusting.

“Cruelty by law enforcement officers must not be condoned. They are entrusted to keep peace and security,” he said.

He said that he will file a complaint with the Ministry of Home Affair and the Inspector general of police over the matter.