Assault: Deaf driver and LFL to submit memo, dashcam clip to PM

Deaf e-hailing driver Ong Ing Keong and Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) will be submitting a protest memorandum to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim tomorrow.

This is in relation to the assault on the 48-year-old driver by a police personnel escorting Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim on May 28.

In a media statement, LFL said the memorandum would be submitted at the Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya at 11am.

“Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain previously confirmed on June 5 that the investigation papers had been handed over to the Attorney-General’s Chambers, but no criminal charge has been brought against the police officer involved despite clear video evidence of the attack upon Ong.

“A copy of the dashcam video will be handed over to the prime minister,” it said.

Others who would be present are representatives from the Malaysian Deaf Advocacy and Well-being Organisation, which has been vocal in demanding justice for Ong, as well as NGOs and activists.

Chronology of events

On Aug 14, Ong (above) could not hold back tears when the dashcam video recording of the incident outside a hotel in Kuala Lumpur was shown to the media.

In the one-and-a-half-minute clip, the victim can be seen sitting in the driver’s seat throughout the ordeal, waiting for his passengers to place their belongings in the boot before a man in a suit knocked on his window, asking him to move.

A dashcam clip of the alleged attack on Ong Ing Keong

Ong signed to the man, trying to tell him he was waiting for his passengers to get in. A few seconds later, another man in a suit appeared next to his window and threw a punch, leaving the victim in shock.

The first man then told Ong to “Jalan, jalan!” (move, move!) after all three passengers got in.

At the press conference, his lawyer N Surendran expressed frustration that no charges have been brought against the perpetrator.

“I don’t know why, as the evidence is clear. No one has been brought to justice,” he said.

IGP Razarudin Husain

Hours later, Razarudin said the police personnel involved had been subjected to disciplinary action following an internal investigation.

However, the police chief later told Malaysiakini that the officer was disciplined over a separate matter, which involved his failure to declare his assets.

He also said if the police continue with an internal investigation into the assault when there is a criminal investigation, it would be a case of “double jeopardy”.

Double jeopardy is a procedural defence that prohibits anyone from being prosecuted in court twice for substantially the same crime.

Surendran described Razarudin’s explanation as “contradictory and fundamentally wrong”. - Mkini