Brawling on camera 'Datuk Seri' casts aspersions on police

The businessperson, whose brawl with a restaurant owner was captured on CCTV, has accused the police of barring his lawyer from being present when he was called for questioning for a second time.

Seow Kah Foong (above), who is a Datuk Seri, said the police summoned him again, two days after the May 27 incident at a condominium in Kuala Lumpur.

“I brought my lawyer along, but he was barred. When he was told to stay outside, I felt that I was in danger.

“Why can't I be accompanied by my lawyer when giving my statement?

“I don't have a high education. If you (police write the statement) and I sign (without knowing the details), would I not get into trouble?” he asked during a press conference in Subang today.

However, Seow, 49, said his second statement was not recorded because the police were preoccupied with buka puasa that night.

The businessperson also complained that when police recorded his statement right after the brawl, he was put together with the restaurant owner Lau Chan Ming, 53, and the latter's “associates”.

According to Seow, this made him feel concerned about his safety.

“When I was asked to enter the room, Lau and the others were there. I was shocked. So I asked my bodyguard to come in as well as he is fluent in Bahasa Malaysia,” he added.

The businessperson also claimed that he saw one of Lau's associates moving about freely in the police station despite having no links to the incident.

“This man appeared to be close to the police. He was like a 'diplomat',” he added.

Due to this, Seow wanted a new investigating officer to handle the case in order to be fair to him.

Contacted later, Wangsa Maju district police chief Rajab Ahad Ismail said the Attorney-General's Chambers has given the greenlight to charge the businessperson.

As for Seow claiming his lawyer was not allowed in, the police chief replied: “It is not that we did not want to him in. If he enters, then we have to record his statement as well.”

However, Rajab did not elaborate.

Initially, Lau had accused Seow and his bodyguards of assaulting him. But the businessperson later claimed he was acting in self-defence.  - Mkini