Witness: Police robbed, assaulted me during Bersih rally

A Bersih supporter is surrounded by policeman during the rally for free and fair elections in Kuala Lumpur, April 28, 2012. — File pic

KUALA LUMPUR, July 11 — A witness told today’s Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) inquiry on Bersih 3.0 that a group of policemen allegedly stole his Samsung tablet computer and a watch while assaulting him during the April 28 march for free and fair elections.

Arshad Abbas alleged that the group accosted him as he was leaving the sit-in protest at Merdeka Square and demanded that he change the yellow Bersih T-shirt he was then wearing.

But the group of about eight to ten policemen began assaulting him just s he was about to change out of his T-shirt, he said at the second day of the Suhakam inquiry here.

“While I was taking some clothes from my bag, I was surrounded by the policemen and they hit me with their feet and hands.

“Then I noticed a hand, which I am confident belonged to one of the policemen, opening my bag. I lost my Samsung Tab 7.0, a watch, as well as the article of clothing that I intended to change into,” he told the panel at Suhakam’s headquarters here this morning.

The inquiry kicked off on July 5 following allegations of the use of excessive force by the authorities during and after the tumultuous April 28 event organised by election watchdog Bersh 2.0.

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