An officer commanding a police arrest team during the Bersih 3.0 rally said it was wrong of the police to take away photographic equipment belonging to the media.
“We cannot confiscate cameras from reporters,” ASP Ong Beng Keong (right) said when asked on the matter at the Malaysian Human Rights Commission’s (Suhakam) inquiry into alleged human rights abuses during April 28 electoral reform rally.
Indeed, Ong told the panel, that in his opinion, unless it was a dangerous weapon, arresting officers are not supposed to confiscate any personal effects during an arrest.
“We cannot confiscate cameras from reporters,” ASP Ong Beng Keong (right) said when asked on the matter at the Malaysian Human Rights Commission’s (Suhakam) inquiry into alleged human rights abuses during April 28 electoral reform rally.Indeed, Ong told the panel, that in his opinion, unless it was a dangerous weapon, arresting officers are not supposed to confiscate any personal effects during an arrest.
He also agreed that while in custody or being transported, it is wrong for other officers to hit or hurt detainees.
However, Ong said, he and his team made no arrest and saw no scuffle between cops and protesters.
All he heard were unconfirmed rumours that some cops were injured by protesters.
His orders were to use restraint and minimum force possible during arrests, but he said that this was only possible if suspects were cooperative.
However, Ong said, he and his team made no arrest and saw no scuffle between cops and protesters.
All he heard were unconfirmed rumours that some cops were injured by protesters.
His orders were to use restraint and minimum force possible during arrests, but he said that this was only possible if suspects were cooperative.
If they fought back, then appropriate measures should be used to restrain them.
‘I saw nothing’
‘I saw nothing’
He was responding to questions from the three-person panel on police procedures and guidelines for arrests of persons during the rally.
Ong is from the Cheras district police headquarters CID, and was ordered to command a 10-man arrest team during Bersih 3.0. He was stationed at Dataran Merdeka, near the Dayabumi building.
His orders were to observe the crowd and if ordered to, to make arrests.
However, Ong said, his 11-hour duty stint during Bersih 3.0 was rather uneventful as he saw no incident and took no action.
His only ordeal was weathering the barrage of insults hurled at him and his men by the protesters.
Ong’s testimony came after several protesters told the inquiry that they were beaten up by police before, during and after arrest, as well as media personnel who testified that they had their cameras damaged and confiscated.
Ong is from the Cheras district police headquarters CID, and was ordered to command a 10-man arrest team during Bersih 3.0. He was stationed at Dataran Merdeka, near the Dayabumi building.
His orders were to observe the crowd and if ordered to, to make arrests.
However, Ong said, his 11-hour duty stint during Bersih 3.0 was rather uneventful as he saw no incident and took no action.
His only ordeal was weathering the barrage of insults hurled at him and his men by the protesters.
Ong’s testimony came after several protesters told the inquiry that they were beaten up by police before, during and after arrest, as well as media personnel who testified that they had their cameras damaged and confiscated.
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