Security guard in viral beating video probed for alleged molestation

A Nepali security guard who was seen physically assaulted in a video is believed to have been taught "a lesson" for allegedly molesting an Indonesian woman last month, the police said today.

Kuala Lumpur Criminal Investigation Department (CID) chief Nik Ros Azhan Nik Abdul Hamid said the 26-year-old suspect had allegedly molested the 40-year-old woman in an incident that occurred inside a lift of a mall. 

"The suspect had allegedly slapped the victim's buttocks when she was waiting for the lift. He followed her into the lift, groped her private parts, and touched her neck.

"The victim reacted by kicking him," he told Malaysiakini.

Traumatised by the incident, the victim confronted the suspect three days later and received an apology from the latter for the indecent act.

She was said to have forgiven him.

However, after learning about the incident, the head of security took action by assaulting the suspect without the knowledge of the victim, Nik Ros added. 

The video of the assault had gone viral on social media which caused an outcry by netizens over the way the security guard was treated.

In the video, the assailant was heard scolding the guard in Malay.

Subsequently, the police arrested the head of security, who is also a Nepali, to facilitate investigation into the matter.

The suspect had also gone to the Wangsa Maju district police headquarters yesterday to have his statement recorded.

In a turn of events, he was detained by the Kuala Lumpur police D11 division.

D11 is a division under the Criminal Investigation Department that specialises in investigating sexual crime and domestic abuse, among others.

Meanwhile, the suspect's lawyer Sumitha Shaanthinni Kishna, when contacted, said her client has denied the allegation.

"Yes, there was an allegation which we only came to know yesterday when IPK KL detained him after IPD Wangsa Maju took his statement.

"My client has denied the allegation. He is under remand and we will wait for the police to complete their investigation," she told Malaysiakini. - Mkini