Cops likely to be charged with rape of Indonesian

Penang police chief Deputy Commissioner Datuk Abdul Rahim Hanafi and Acting Indonesian Consul-General Sofiana Mufidah during the press conferrence November 13, 2012. — Picture by K.E. Ooi

GEORGE TOWN, Nov 13 ― Three policemen are expected to face rape charges soon, following the completion of investigations into the alleged sexual assault of an Indonesian woman at a police station here.

The police have handed over its investigation papers on the case to the Attorney-General’s chamber for further instructions.

But Penang police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Abdul Rahim Hanafi told a press conference today that the three suspects will be charged in court with rape once the police received final instructions from the AG.

“The three suspects are now still under remand until Nov 16 and have been interdicted from work,” he said.

The police had formed a special team to speed up investigations into the case, he said.

A total of 10 statements were recorded and the 25-year-old victim has been placed under the care of the Indonesian consulate.

Abdul Rahim said even though the suspects are low-ranking police personnel, he had ensured investigations into the case were thorough and not compromised.

“We hope the public will not speculate further on this case and let us do our job in resolving this case,” he said.

He also urged the public not to over-react as this could dampen the good relationship between Malaysia and Indonesia.

Acting Indonesian Consul-General Sofiana Mufidah, who was also present at the press conference, said they trust the Malaysian police will do the right thing in solving this case and bringing the perpetrators to book.

“I also want to urge Indonesians living in Penang, Malaysia and even those in Indonesia to stay calm,” she said.

She said many are probably upset that something like this had happened to an Indonesian citizen but hoped that they will let the Malaysian law takes its course to punish those responsible for the crime.

Last Friday, a 25-year-old Indonesian woman had sought the help of Bukit Mertajam Barisan Nasional coordinator Lau Chiek Tuan to lodge a police report alleging that she was gang-raped by three policemen at the Prai police station.

The restaurant worker claimed that she was taken to the police station after she was stopped by a police patrol car near Megamall Pinang shopping complex at around 6.30am while travelling in a taxi.

She alleged that she was taken to the police station after she showed a photocopy of her passport and the police refused to accept it.

She claimed that she was taken to a room at the police station and was raped by three policemen.

Abdul Rahim said they received the police report at 3.06pm on the same day and had arrested the three suspects at 5.45pm.

The suspects were brought to the magistrate’s court on Saturday, where a seven-day remand order was issued.