The family of 15-year-old Aminulrasyid Amzah, who was shot dead by the police in a car chase three years ago, wants justice.
Producing a letter from Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak that promised her “justice and transparency” in pursuing her son’s killers, Norsiah Mohamad charged today that none of this has been fulfilled.
“Is my son a stray cat - just shoot and throw him away?” Norsiah Mohamad asked reporters gathered at a lawyer’s office in Petaling Jaya.
“If you are not diligent in fulfilling your promises, how can you be the prime minister?”
Norsiah (right) charged that the government has failed to hold anyone accountable, as the only assailant answerable for Aminulrasyid’s death, Corporal Jenain Subi, was acquitted by the Court of Appeallast month.
Helped by lawyers N Surendran and Latheefa Koya, the family will now launch a public campaign to seek justice.
Surendran, who is also a PKR vice-president, said the prosecution botched up the case, for new documents on police operating procedures shot holes in Jenain’s defence that the police have the right to open fire at vehicles attempting to evade them.
Surendran said the family now wants the attorney-general to urge the Court of Appeal to review its decision.
Producing a letter from Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak that promised her “justice and transparency” in pursuing her son’s killers, Norsiah Mohamad charged today that none of this has been fulfilled.
“Is my son a stray cat - just shoot and throw him away?” Norsiah Mohamad asked reporters gathered at a lawyer’s office in Petaling Jaya.
“If you are not diligent in fulfilling your promises, how can you be the prime minister?”
Norsiah (right) charged that the government has failed to hold anyone accountable, as the only assailant answerable for Aminulrasyid’s death, Corporal Jenain Subi, was acquitted by the Court of Appeallast month.Helped by lawyers N Surendran and Latheefa Koya, the family will now launch a public campaign to seek justice.
Surendran, who is also a PKR vice-president, said the prosecution botched up the case, for new documents on police operating procedures shot holes in Jenain’s defence that the police have the right to open fire at vehicles attempting to evade them.
Surendran said the family now wants the attorney-general to urge the Court of Appeal to review its decision.
On April 26, 2010 - less than four months short of his 15th birthday - Aminulrasyid was killed in Shah Alam, while fleeing from the police in a car sometime between 1.10am and 2am.
The High Court had held that the 30 shots fired were meant to stop the vehicle and Jenain, the only police officer brought to trial, was later acquitted as judges said he had no intention to kill Aminulrasyid. Justice Balia had said from the 30 shots fired, one bullet penetrated the car while the rest of the bullets hit the lower part of the car.
The Court of Appeal on Nov 26 upheld the 2012 High Court decision, which decided to free Jenain. He was at first sentenced to five years imprisonment by a Sessions Court judge in 2011.
‘What is the meaning of fairness?’
In the earlier letter to the family dated May 7, 2010, Najib had promised that the government would carry out investigations with “fairness, transparency and as soon as possible in pursuit of justice for all”.
“What is the meaning of fairness and transparency when the outcome is very disappointing for all?” Norsiah said.
“It was clearly a biased trial, with no justice at all for my son.”
Surendran said that the case also now warrants public attention too as the court’s decision sets a dangerous precedent.
“The review is important not just for the sake of justice for Aminulrasyid but also that we have a law... the police cannot just open fire, this is unprecedented. No country in the world allows it, our country doesn’t allow it,” Surendran said.
“This is not about vengeance but justice... to ensure the safety of all Malaysians.”
Surendran said that the Inspector-General’s Standing Order(IGSO) on the police’s lawful use of firearms only recently became public knowledge when part of it was read out at the KL High Court during the trial of another police shooting case, Norizan Saleh (left in photo) vs the Malaysian government.
Norizan, 34, survived five gunshot wounds on her chest and wrist when policemen opened fire on her car she was travelling in at the Middle Ring Road II in Kuala Lumpur in 2009. She filed a civil suitlast year claiming for general damages and specific damages of RM18,000 for having surgery at Institut Jantung Negara for having a damaged lung removed.
Reading out the IGSO, Surendran noted that police procedures said “that firearms can be discharged only where the lives of police personnel or the public are threatened”.
In the case of Aminulrasyid, the defendants had not proven that the teenager posed any danger to the pursuing police officers.
“I will support a campaign to find justice so that this will not happen to others,” said Aminulrasyid’s eldest sister Nor Azura Amzah, who was also at the press conference.
The High Court had held that the 30 shots fired were meant to stop the vehicle and Jenain, the only police officer brought to trial, was later acquitted as judges said he had no intention to kill Aminulrasyid. Justice Balia had said from the 30 shots fired, one bullet penetrated the car while the rest of the bullets hit the lower part of the car.
The Court of Appeal on Nov 26 upheld the 2012 High Court decision, which decided to free Jenain. He was at first sentenced to five years imprisonment by a Sessions Court judge in 2011.
‘What is the meaning of fairness?’
In the earlier letter to the family dated May 7, 2010, Najib had promised that the government would carry out investigations with “fairness, transparency and as soon as possible in pursuit of justice for all”.
“What is the meaning of fairness and transparency when the outcome is very disappointing for all?” Norsiah said.
“It was clearly a biased trial, with no justice at all for my son.”
Surendran said that the case also now warrants public attention too as the court’s decision sets a dangerous precedent.
“The review is important not just for the sake of justice for Aminulrasyid but also that we have a law... the police cannot just open fire, this is unprecedented. No country in the world allows it, our country doesn’t allow it,” Surendran said.
“This is not about vengeance but justice... to ensure the safety of all Malaysians.”
Surendran said that the Inspector-General’s Standing Order(IGSO) on the police’s lawful use of firearms only recently became public knowledge when part of it was read out at the KL High Court during the trial of another police shooting case, Norizan Saleh (left in photo) vs the Malaysian government. Norizan, 34, survived five gunshot wounds on her chest and wrist when policemen opened fire on her car she was travelling in at the Middle Ring Road II in Kuala Lumpur in 2009. She filed a civil suitlast year claiming for general damages and specific damages of RM18,000 for having surgery at Institut Jantung Negara for having a damaged lung removed.
Reading out the IGSO, Surendran noted that police procedures said “that firearms can be discharged only where the lives of police personnel or the public are threatened”.
In the case of Aminulrasyid, the defendants had not proven that the teenager posed any danger to the pursuing police officers.
“I will support a campaign to find justice so that this will not happen to others,” said Aminulrasyid’s eldest sister Nor Azura Amzah, who was also at the press conference.
'No one has come forward to apologise'
Aminulrasyid’s mother said that despite her demands over the years, no one from the police force, including Jenain, have come forward to apologise for the so-called accidental shooting. She said that instead, she has had to endure all kinds of slander against her and her dead son.
The boy from Shah Alam was killed not far from his home which showed that the police fired repeatedly at the Proton Iswara which he was driving even as he attempted to rush back to safety, Norsiah said.
“The tree which marked the spot where he was killed is still there. Every time I leave the house, I am reminded...” Norsiah said, holding back her tears. “His friends are already starting to go into universities... but my son, he is gone... just like that.”
Norsiah also charged that inspector-general of police (IGP) Khalid Abu Bakar, who was a Selangor chief police officer at that time, had tried to paint a negative picture of Aminulrasyid to shed responsibility for the killing. However, no conclusive evidence was presented in court that the teenager was even armed with parangs (butcher knives) that night. Aminulrasyid was killed by a bullet to the head.
Another schoolboy, Azamuddin Omar, 15, who was in the car with Aminulrasyid that night, had also claimed that he was assaulted by the police.
Displaying that she has yet to reach closure on her son’s death, Norsiah said Aminulrasyid sometimes spoke to her in her dreams.
“Why are people saying I am a bad mother? I am not looking for sympathy but Allah knows, and I know that my son is innocent,” Norsiah said.
Surendran, who is the MP for Padang Serai, meanwhile pledged that he would kick up a fuss in Parliament over this unresolved murder as soon as his suspension time was served.
Aminulrasyid’s mother said that despite her demands over the years, no one from the police force, including Jenain, have come forward to apologise for the so-called accidental shooting. She said that instead, she has had to endure all kinds of slander against her and her dead son.
The boy from Shah Alam was killed not far from his home which showed that the police fired repeatedly at the Proton Iswara which he was driving even as he attempted to rush back to safety, Norsiah said.
“The tree which marked the spot where he was killed is still there. Every time I leave the house, I am reminded...” Norsiah said, holding back her tears. “His friends are already starting to go into universities... but my son, he is gone... just like that.”
Norsiah also charged that inspector-general of police (IGP) Khalid Abu Bakar, who was a Selangor chief police officer at that time, had tried to paint a negative picture of Aminulrasyid to shed responsibility for the killing. However, no conclusive evidence was presented in court that the teenager was even armed with parangs (butcher knives) that night. Aminulrasyid was killed by a bullet to the head.
Another schoolboy, Azamuddin Omar, 15, who was in the car with Aminulrasyid that night, had also claimed that he was assaulted by the police.Displaying that she has yet to reach closure on her son’s death, Norsiah said Aminulrasyid sometimes spoke to her in her dreams.
“Why are people saying I am a bad mother? I am not looking for sympathy but Allah knows, and I know that my son is innocent,” Norsiah said.
Surendran, who is the MP for Padang Serai, meanwhile pledged that he would kick up a fuss in Parliament over this unresolved murder as soon as his suspension time was served.
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