KUALA LUMPUR – Deaf e-hailing driver Ong Ing Keong, who was recently assaulted, was called in by police today to assist in their internal investigations.
Ong was questioned for four hours by the integrity and standards compliance department at Bukit Aman.
According to his lawyer, N. Surendran, the department is currently investigating Ong’s alleged assault by a VVIP’s bodyguard at the St Regis hotel in Kuala Lumpur and the driver’s ordeal at the Brickfields police headquarters immediately after, where he claims he was discouraged from filing a report.
He said that during questioning today, officers hinted that the alleged suspect may be from the police force.
“The indication given to us by officers from Brickfields and Bukit Aman is that the alleged suspect is from the police force.
“The confirmation of the identity, I think we leave it to police,” Surendran said.
Later in a statement, integrity and standards compliance department director Datuk Seri Azri Ahmad confirmed that police were conducting an investigation into possible misconduct in the line of duty.
He added that the probe was still in its early days and more witnesses would be called in to give their statements.
Earlier today, it was reported that police had completed investigation papers over Ong’s assault, and the matter was referred to the Attorney-General’s Chambers.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said a total of 12 individuals, including Ong, hotel staff and bodyguards, had already given their statements to authorities.
At a press conference last week, Ong said he was punched by a bodyguard of a VVIP at the St Regis hotel here on May 28.
He told the press that when he went to file a report at the police station on the same day, a representative from the palace was present and offered compensation to end the matter.
The bodyguard being investigated is reportedly a member of the security detail of Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, who has called for a thorough investigation, urging authorities to give the victim justice.
The crown prince has also said the bodyguard involved is from the police force. – June 5, 2024