Five cops charged with assaulting businessman

Five police personnel were charged at the Petaling Jaya Magistrate's Court for assaulting businessman Chia Buang Hing. Four of them were charged under Section 323 of the Penal Code with voluntarily causing hurt. They were accused of causing harm to Chia at the Kota Damansara police station from 12.30am to 3am on Dec 19 last year. The four are constables Mohd Azwan Hassan, Norzali Rosle, Ahmad Saifullah Osman and Alizulhafiz Abdul Ghafar. Mohd Azwan and Norzali also face a second charge under the same enactment for causing harm to Chia at Jalan PJU 3/15, Persiaran Tropicana, Petaling Jaya between 11.30pm on Dec 18 to 12.30am the next day. All four claimed trial. They face a maximum of one year in jail, a maximum fine of RM2,000 or both upon conviction. Meanwhile, lance corporal Mohadi Adam was charged under Section 166 of the Penal Code for disobeying the law in order to cause harm. Mohadi too claimed trial. The penalty is a maximum of a year in jail, a fine or both upon conviction.

Magistrate Nik Mohd Fadli Nik Azlan did not impose bail on the five. The case is set for mention on Feb 14.

The prosecution team was led by DPP Amirah Mohamed Yusoff and Izazi Muhamedin.

Mohd Azwan Hassan was represented by Suraj Singh while the other four were represented by Ahmad Zaharil Muhaiyar.

I though I would die in the police station

Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng, a lawyer, rushed to the court to hold a watching brief for Chia after he was informed of the proceedings by a journalist. Lim complained to the magistrate that Chia had not been informed about the hearing.

On his request, the magistrate ordered the prosecution to keep Lim updated on developments in the case. Chia, who arrived after the hearing was adjourned, told reporters that he is still suffering from various internal injuries and currently undergoing treatment under a Chinese traditional doctor. "I though I would die in the police station," he said, pointing to parts of his body.

Two weeks ago, Chia lodged a police report that he had been assaulted by 11 police officers when arrested for allegedly carrying drugs at a road block in Petaling Jaya Utara.

In his report, he also claimed that the police personnel had stolen RM13,000 from him. Chia said he was repeatedly beaten by a group of police officers while detained at the Kota Damansara police station for five days. The police filed a counter-report against him, accusing him of making false report. Subsequently he identified six of his assailants in a police line-up on Dec 26.

However he could not confirm whether the five accused were among the 11 because he was not in court when they were charged. Chia has also decided to file a civil suit against the government demanding compensation. He will be represented by Gobind Singh Deo.

- Malaysiakini