PASIR GUDANG: Police here have denied parading a local man and his female teenage companion while being brought to court to be remanded after being arrested for allegedly engaging in an indecent act at a car park
Seri Alam OCPD Supt Mohd Suhaimi Ishak said the suspects aged 22 and 17, along with other suspects in different cases, were brought to the Johor Baru Magistrate Court in a police vehicle.
“They were then walked on the usual path towards the courthouse for the remand process.
“The Seri Alam police headquarters has never called or placed any photographer at the location to record the process of the remand procedures,” he said in a statement on Saturday (April 8).
Police are also conducting investigations to identify any breach in procedures during the process, he added.
On Friday (April 7), Muda human rights bureau chief Dobby Chew said in a statement that the party was shocked to see the images of the duo being escorted out of a police truck in remand clothing and handcuffs.
“The Child Act 2001 provides clear regulations and rules surrounding the treatment of juvenile offenders.
“Section 83A(1) explicitly states that a child shall not be handcuffed unless it is an offence involving grave crimes or an attempt to resist or evade arrest.
“Furthermore, it is highly unethical and damaging for the police to parade the two persons in handcuffs and remand clothing and allow photos of them in such conditions to be proliferated and shared freely.
“Media who have reported the news without any regard to the welfare and rights of the persons involved, especially under the Child Act 2001,” he said.
On Thursday (April 6), police detained the duo for allegedly engaging in an indecent act at a car park.
The couple was apprehended after a 23-second video of their indecent act was uploaded to Twitter and went viral on social media.
“The incident took place on Wednesday (March 29) in a car park at Taman Kota Masai, Pasir Gudang, at 3.03pm," he said.
Supt Mohd Suhaimi said acting on information received on Thursday, police managed to locate both suspects between 4.15pm and 5.15pm.
He said the suspects were arrested in two different locations: Taman Johor Jaya, Johor Baru, and Taman Kota Masai, here.
