KUALA LUMPUR – A disability rights group has slammed the RM1,000 fine imposed by a magistrates’ court here on a police escort of a VVIP figure after he pleaded guilty to punching disabled e-hailing driver Ong Ing Keong on May 28.
Muhammad Taufik Ismail, who is of lance corporal rank, was charged at the court today over the incident which took place outside the lobby of St Regis Hotel. The 32-year-old is accused of voluntarily causing hurt to Ong, 47.
Media reported the RM1,000 fine imposed on Taufik after he pleaded guilty to the charge under Section 323 of the Penal Code before magistrate Farah Nabihah Muhamad Dan.
The section provides for up to a year in prison, a maximum RM2,000 fine, or both, upon conviction.
Malaysian Deaf Advocacy and Wellbeing Organisation (Dawn) secretary-general Anthony Chong said the punishment given should not have been that light, as it sets a bad message that it would be “okay” for authoritative figures to harm members of the public and not face heavy consequences.
In a statement, Chong also expressed concerns that authorities would feel more emboldened to abuse their power, while the public has to show them respect and not speak out when this happens.
“The punishment (was more) like a traffic summon. (Now) the authorities would exploit their (power) anytime and they would be freed again as it is a small matter for them.
“But this is a huge matter as they are the authority, and they are supposed to protect the people, by law,” he lamented.
Chong also said that the punishment given to Taufik was “quite unfair”, and it made the assault case against Ong seem like “an easy one” for the offender.
He also questioned the months-long time that the authorities took to investigate this assault case, which took a toll on Ong’s mental health.
“Ong was fearful that police might come knicking at his house during the first few months, and that they might take him to the police station again,” added Chong.
Chong also pointed out that many members of the deaf community were unsatisfied with the court’s decision and how the police escort’s face was not revealed to the Ong.
The case attracted wide attention with repeated calls for swift action from civil society who questioned the delay in charging the police escort.
This intensified after Ong and Dawn revealed that Ong had allegedly been pressured and offered money to withdraw his police report on the assault.
Dashcam video of the incident showed Ong had been waiting for passengers to enter his car while the VVIP’s security team shouted orders for vehicles to clear the area. An individual, assumed to be Taufik, was recorded sticking his hand into Ong’s car through the open window on the driver’s side and giving the e-hailing driver a sucker punch.
Taufik had been working as part of the security detail for Johor Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, who called for a thorough probe, stressing that he did not condone any illegal action or intimidation. – November 4, 2024