KUALA LUMPUR – The disabled e-hailing driver who was allegedly assaulted by an escort of a VIP claims he felt “pressured” into dropping his police report on the altercation, following which he received a compensation of RM800.
The man, a 46-year-old driver, said he was presented with two options the same day when he filed a report at the Brickfields police station on the May 28 altercation.
“If I should proceed with the case, (I was told) that would mean the case would be brought to court (and) my first phone would be confiscated,” the victim, who remains unidentified, said in a statement issued by the Malaysian Deaf Advocacy and Well-being Organisation (DAWN).
“If I should drop the case, I would be compensated for my injury. Feeling pressured, I opted for the second choice.”
He added that while he had initially requested RM1,000, a representative of the bodyguard who assaulted him had then proposed an RM500 payment – which the victim declined before negotiations concluded with a settlement of RM800.
“During each point of disagreement in the negotiation, the representative would approach a group of police officers for a discussion. Subsequently, he (the representative) returned with a new officer.
“Upon my refusal, he would again consult with the officers. This process was repeated until we reached an agreement.
“Upon receiving the RM800, a video recording was made of the money being passed to me,” he said, adding that he was cautioned by police against sharing his car camera’s footage of his assault.
He also said after receiving the payment, he was made to review and sign a pre-prepared second police report, which he had not intended to file.
He added that when he had returned to the police station at around 2am the next day to collect his identification card, he was made to sign a third police report, adding: “I could not discern any differences between the second police report and the (third) one.
“Despite my confusion, I signed the third report.”
In an accompanying statement, DAWN questioned the motive behind police refusing the man access to his mobile phone while they conducted their investigation.
“The victim received no explanation for the phone inspection or the prolonged retention of his phone. He was treated as if he were a suspect,” the group alleged.
“On what grounds was the victim’s mobile phone retained for police investigation? His privacy should have been fully respected as he was the victim in this case.
“His child had passed away three weeks prior to the incident and he was still in mourning. The situation arising from the assault incident has profoundly affected him, making it difficult for him to cope.”
Claiming that the victim’s rights were “not properly protected and upheld,” DAWN said every citizen should be treated equitably with the inherent right to report incidents to the police for self-protection.
The group also asserted that the incident has heightened fears within the deaf community regarding their lack of protection, adding that the event highlights an urgent need for greater vigilance and immediate action to prevent repeat incidents.
The alleged assault of a deaf e-hailing driver by the VIP’s bodyguard was confirmed yesterday by Bukit Aman’s criminal investigation department director Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain, who said an investigation paper had been opened.
However, Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa later said the complainant had lodged a second police report that the matter had been settled and that he did not wish to prolong the case.
Rusdi’s statement was unclear on whether police had ceased the investigation or not.
Legal rights group Lawyers for Liberty today said even if the victim had lodged a second police report to state that the matter had been resolved, police have a statutory duty to continue investigating the alleged offence as the force is tasked with preserving peace and security. – May 30, 2024