Assault victim says to sue cops, government

Video by: http://www.malaysiakini.tv/video/20825 (14/1/2011)

Story by: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com (By Melissa Chi, 14/1/2011)

A man, claiming assault by the police, is planning to sue the district’s police chief and the government over his alleged beatings. Chia Buang Hing, 34, had previously claimed to have been beaten up by the policemen who also took RM13,000 of his money, after they stopped him at a roadblock, at 11pm on December 18 last year. Chia further claimed he was assaulted repeatedly by as many as five police officers at a time. He had been held under remand on suspicion of drugs and weapons possession until December 22, and is currently out on police bail.

DAP’s Lim Lip Eng told reporters that Chia will be filing a civil suit once they have all the particulars needed, such as the names of the police officers involved and his medical report. Marcus Tan, one of Chia’s lawyer, said they will be suing for the loss of RM13,000 in cash, as well as for general damages. They are also considering a defamation suit against the district PJ police chief. The lawyers will also be sending a letter of complaint to the Chief of Justice and the Attorney-General, against the magistrate on duty who had heard Chia’s complaint on December 19. Lim also used Chia's case to renew calls for the formation of an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).

Aside from Tan, Chia will also be represented by Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo and Datuk Seri Dr Sim Ooi Hong. Four police officers — Mohd Azwan Hassan, Norzali Rosle, Ahmad Saifullah Osman and Alizulhafiz Abdul Ghafar — were charged on January 11 at a Magistrate’s court over allegedly assaulting Chia. All four were charged under Section 323 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing harm, and a maximum one-year jail term, a maximum fine of RM2,000, or both upon conviction. Another policeman, Lans Kpl Mahadi Adam, also claimed trial to a charge of disobeying an order under the Police Act 1967, relating to the same incident. He was charged under Section 166 of the Penal Code for disobeying the law in order to “voluntarily” cause harm. All the men were later released without bail.