KUALA LUMPUR: A disabled e-hailing driver’s quest for justice has been met after the Magistrate’s Court fined a VVIP’s bodyguard for assaulting him.
L/Kpl Muhammad Taufik Ismail, 32, was fined RM1,000, in default 20 days’ imprisonment, after pleading guilty to voluntarily causing hurt to Ong Ing Keong, 47, in front of the lobby at St Regis Hotel here at about 11.40am on May 28.
The charge under Section 323 of the Penal Code carries a penalty of up to one year in prison or a fine of up to RM2,000, or both, if convicted.
In a statement, Ong’s lawyer Zaid Malek said the outcome brought some relief to his client.
“This long-delayed charge comes as a culmination of a public campaign for justice for Ong.
“Ong is grateful for all the public support, concern and sympathy he has received over the past months,” Zaid said.
During the proceedings yesterday, L/Kpl Muhammad Taufik, who was wearing a black-collared T-shirt and beige trousers, said he understood the charge and pleaded guilty.
His lawyer Ashok Athimulan sought a lenient sentence on the grounds that this was his client’s first offence.
He said L/Kpl Muhammad Taufik, who is currently attached to the Bukit Aman police headquarters, has been in service for nine years with a clean record.
“The accused made a guilty plea at the first instance and this saves the court’s time and cost.
“An early plea indicates his remorse and regret. He apologises to the victim,” Ashok said.
The lawyer said the victim sustained soft tissue injury and was not grievously hurt.
“The accused was carrying out his duty as an escorting officer and this is not an organised crime,” he added.
Meanwhile, deputy public prosecutor Datuk Razali Che Ani said the case has caught widespread attention from the public.
He asked the court to mete out a sentence that serves as a lesson.
Magistrate Farah Nabihah Muhamad Dan then passed the sentence and it is understood that L/Kpl Muhammad Taufik paid the fine.
According to the facts of the case, Ong was picking up a passenger at the hotel lobby when he saw a group of men, including the accused, who behaved like bodyguards.
One of them had shown him hand gestures signalling him to leave the area.
However, the victim did not understand the gesture as he was deaf and mute.
Ong then rolled down his window to ask in sign language and he was suddenly punched on his face by the accused.
He left the place to drop off his passenger at a destination and subsequently made a police report.
A medical report stated that the victim suffered swelling on the right side of his face.
