Teen on crutches claims cops put him in patrol car boot for flouting MCO

CORONAVIRUS | A teenager from Sungai Petani, Kedah, has accused the police of abusing him after he was arrested for flouting the movement control order (MCO).

Ahmad Radhi Bashizan, according to an NGO, was forced into the boot of a patrol car before being driven to a police beat.

In a statement this morning, Eliminating Deaths and Abuse in Custody Together (Edict) said the teenager, who was using crutches, struggled to breathe when in the boot.

"He informed the five arresting officers that he was recovering from an operation to have a pin inserted in his right hip.

"He pointed to his crutches. He told them he was on a course of medication. He told them his surgeon had told him not to put any load on his right leg for two months.

“The officers (purportedly) brushed aside everything. They handcuffed him. They told him and another arrestee to get into the boot of the patrol car," it added.

Radhi, 19, was subsequently transferred to a lock-up in the Kuala Muda district police headquarters.

The teenager was later freed on police bail. He was told to appear in court on April 29 to face charges.

Radhi, who has lodged a police report on the alleged abuse, also claimed that he was not allowed to use the crutches during his detention.

Edict urged the police to investigate the allegation and to act against the officers.

"Edict reminds the police they are responsible for upholding the law and the health of detainees as stipulated in sections 3 and 20 of the Police Act, 1967 and repeatedly affirmed by the courts.

"Edict calls upon Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador and Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin to be just as rapid in meting out punishments to police offenders as to the public," it added.

Meanwhile, Kedah police chief Zainuddin Yaacob told Malaysiakini that he would look into the allegation. - Mkini