KUALA LUMPUR: The disciplinary action taken against the police personnel suspected of assaulting a disabled ehailing driver was related to undeclared assets, Tan Sri Razarudin Husain has clarified.
The Inspector-General of Police explained that the disciplinary action was not related to the assault case that occurred at a hotel in the city in May.
“Failure to declare assets is a breach of the Inspector-General of Police Standing Orders,” he said.
Razarudin also said the police could not conduct an internal probe over the assault case as it was already being investigated under the Penal Code.
“If we continue with an internal investigation for the assault case on top of the criminal probe under Section 323 of the Penal Code, it would constitute double jeopardy,” he said when contacted yesterday.
Double jeopardy refers to the legal principle that prevents someone from being prosecuted twice for the same offence.
Razarudin said the investigation paper for the assault case was completed in June and subsequently referred to the deputy public prosecutor for further action.
He added that the file was sent back to the deputy public prosecutor on July 22 after the police received new instructions to investigate the case further.
The IGP gave his assurance that further disciplinary action would be taken if the officer is charged and convicted of the assault.
He had previously stated that an internal investigation by the Bukit Aman Integrity and Standard Compliance Department (JIPS) was conducted promptly in June.
“Any personnel who commits disciplinary offences face various actions such as warnings, suspensions and demotions.
“Action against the personnel in this case was taken at the early stages once JIPS concluded its internal investigation.
“The personnel is also being investigated under Section 323 of the Penal Code for causing harm,” he had said.
He also stressed that the police would not shield officers or personnel who commit offences.
Razarudin’s comments followed lawyer N. Surendran’s questioning of the actions taken by the police and the Attorney General’s Chambers regarding the case.
Surendran, who represents disabled ehailing driver Ong Ing Keong, 48, said no action had been taken against the suspect so far.
Ong had lodged two police reports claiming he was assaulted by a member of a VIP’s security detail while attempting to pick up a passenger at a hotel near KL Sentral.
The social rights group Lawyers For Liberty recently released a video showing the security personnel member assaulting the driver, an incident that sparked public outrage in May.
In the two-minute clip released during a press conference, Ong is seen waiting outside the hotel when a security member approaches and shouts at him.
Ong, who is deaf and mute, is shown rolling down his window to communicate with the man, who suddenly punches Ong in the face.
