A 24-year-old youth from Sentul who was allegedly shot by police officers for refusing to get out of his car when asked to, is currently being investigated for attempted murder by the cops.
S Mahendren alleged that he was shot at four times when he sped off in fear after a group of plainclothes officers refused to furnish their proof of authority and instead threatened him to exit the car.
Three of the shots hit his car, but one hit his thigh, requiring Mahendren to have an operation at a hospital in Klang.
But to his and his family’s shock, a police bail letter issued later revealed that the police are instead investigating him under Section 307 of the Penal Code, which carries life imprisonment and is also punishable by death.
Mahendren said this is probably due to him accidentally knocking over a stationary motorcycle, believed to belong of one of the “officers”, while trying to get away.
The officer, Mahendren was told, suffered hand injuries.
S Mahendren alleged that he was shot at four times when he sped off in fear after a group of plainclothes officers refused to furnish their proof of authority and instead threatened him to exit the car.
Three of the shots hit his car, but one hit his thigh, requiring Mahendren to have an operation at a hospital in Klang.
But to his and his family’s shock, a police bail letter issued later revealed that the police are instead investigating him under Section 307 of the Penal Code, which carries life imprisonment and is also punishable by death.
Mahendren said this is probably due to him accidentally knocking over a stationary motorcycle, believed to belong of one of the “officers”, while trying to get away.
The officer, Mahendren was told, suffered hand injuries.
The incident took place at around 5am on March 3, when Mahendren was returning to his home in Sentul after visiting his parents in Klang.
He was stopped by three plainclothes officers on plain motorbikes shortly after he made a stop at a restaurant in Sentul before heading back home.
When the officers refused to furnish their identities to prove themselves as police, Mahendren allegedly told them that he would drive to the Sentul police station which was a short distance away.
However, the “officers” trailed him and again began threatening him to step out of his car just when he wanted to walk into the police station. Apparently reminded by previous incidents where he had been robbed in such situations, Mahendren sped off after knocking over a stationery motorbike, and the officers had stopped trailing thereafter, but fired shots instead.
He had to halt the car a short distance away due to his thigh injury and later called his father to get admitted into the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah hospital in Klang.
His lawyer M Viswanathan said that he could not understand why the officers resorted to firing shots at him even though he was unarmed at the time and did not have any prior criminal record.
He was stopped by three plainclothes officers on plain motorbikes shortly after he made a stop at a restaurant in Sentul before heading back home.
When the officers refused to furnish their identities to prove themselves as police, Mahendren allegedly told them that he would drive to the Sentul police station which was a short distance away.
However, the “officers” trailed him and again began threatening him to step out of his car just when he wanted to walk into the police station. Apparently reminded by previous incidents where he had been robbed in such situations, Mahendren sped off after knocking over a stationery motorbike, and the officers had stopped trailing thereafter, but fired shots instead.
He had to halt the car a short distance away due to his thigh injury and later called his father to get admitted into the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah hospital in Klang.
His lawyer M Viswanathan said that he could not understand why the officers resorted to firing shots at him even though he was unarmed at the time and did not have any prior criminal record.
'Incident highlights need for IPCMC'
He also said that he does not want the Sentul police station to investigate the matter themselves, and stressed that the incident further highlights the need to set up an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) to investigate police.
“Enough, too many people have suffered from this. I urge whichever government that takes power to set up the IPCMC. The police can’t investigate what the police have done. It’s akin to asking a thief to investigate himself,” he said.
Mahendren, who was supposed to start employment with a bank in March, had to also put off his professional life due to the injury and rehabilitation process. He says that he currently has difficulty walking and is also traumatised by in the entire incident and by the subsequent investigation.
He also said that he does not want the Sentul police station to investigate the matter themselves, and stressed that the incident further highlights the need to set up an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) to investigate police.
“Enough, too many people have suffered from this. I urge whichever government that takes power to set up the IPCMC. The police can’t investigate what the police have done. It’s akin to asking a thief to investigate himself,” he said.
Mahendren, who was supposed to start employment with a bank in March, had to also put off his professional life due to the injury and rehabilitation process. He says that he currently has difficulty walking and is also traumatised by in the entire incident and by the subsequent investigation.
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