PSM member injured during farmers eviction to be charged

 

PSM central committee member Chong Yee Shan, who was injured when protesting against the eviction of six farmers in Perak, has been summoned to the Ipoh Magistrate’s Court on Dec 27.

The police had informed Chong that she would be charged under Section 186 of the Penal Code related to obstructing a public servant from discharging his or her duties which carries a jail term of two years, a fine of up to RM10,000 or both.

Seeing red over this, PSM - believing the case is related to the Oct 24 incident in Kanthan, located in Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s Tambun parliamentary constituency - said the eviction itself is being disputed at the Ipoh High Court.

In the incident, Chong suffered injuries to her mouth and nose after allegedly being shoved by an officer from the Perak Land and Mines Office (PTG).

“Chong sustained a serious injury to her right orbit (eye socket) with a fracture adjacent to the nose. This has affected her vision.

“She now sees double in certain directions and is currently undergoing treatment,” said PSM deputy chairperson S Arutchelvan in a statement this afternoon.

He said that while a total of 45 police reports were lodged nationwide against the PTG officer, it is the “victim of state violence” who is being charged.

“This investigation and outcome is totally unbecoming. This is a case of double standard when the victim is to be charged while the perpetrator seems vindicated.

“PSM calls upon the attorney-general to intervene and relook at this case as it points to blatant lop-sided justice,” he said.

“We call for the charges against Chong to be dropped and for a fresh investigation to be carried out by neutral investigators from other police districts,” Arutchelvan added.

Farmers evicted

Previously, Malaysiakini reported PSM committee member R Karthiges stated that the commotion erupted when PTG officers arrived at the farm with bulldozers and excavators.

He said a total of 200 farmers are involved in the farming sector in Kanthan, which is considered to be the single largest vegetable-producing region in the state.

According to Karthiges, six of the farmers received a notice dated Oct 13 informing them that their farms are located on land belonging to the Perak State Development Corporation and were ordered to vacate within a week.

Before the last general election, the farmers told Malaysiakini they were hoping that Anwar would resolve their problem. - Mkini