Friday, July 25, 2008

BMC : Cops says Mechanic was speeding towards us

Source : Malaysiakini


The car driven by 23-year-old mechanic Chang Jiun Haur had allegedly sped towards a group of policemen during the Bandar Mahkota Cheras fracas, according to a Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) personnel.

MCPX

suhakam inquiry cheras mahkota fru shahrizanLance-corporal Shahrizan Abd Rashid (left), 25, who was at the scene on May 27 controlling the traffic, said he saw Chang’s Proton Wira speeding towards him and a group of policemen.

"I saw the car coming fast towards us and it did not seem as if the driver was going to make a u-turn. That's when I heard someone yelling 'ketepi, ketepi!' (Move aside, move aside!). So we moved to the side.

"When the car arrived near the u-turn, the driver made a sharp turn and the car stopped because there was another car in front," he told the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) public inquiry.

'I heard two cops were hit'

cheras mahkota fru assault on car sequence 280508Following this, he said CID and FRU personnel stationed at the scene moved in and arrested Chang.

Shahrizan however did not see what transpired next as he had moved from the scene to keep watch over other vehicles and bystanders.

"I also do not know which police officers were hit (by the car). I only heard two of them were involved," he said.

Asked if he had any knowledge how fast the car was travelling, the FRU personnel replied: "I'm not sure, but the speed could definitely cause serious injuries."

Suhakam is investigating if the police had used excessive force during the incident. This is the third day of the inquiry.

On Wednesday, Chang testified that he was allegedly yanked out of his car and assaulted for no apparent reason.

The mechanic also claimed that he was trying to make a u-turn when he spotted the police blockade on the road.

According to Chang, he was driving about 20-30kmh as there were other cars in front of his Proton Wira. This is when the police personnel had allegedly mobbed his car and started kicking and hitting it with their batons.

Nine witnesses from the police force are expected to testify today.

mahkota cheras fru assault youth victim chang jiun haur 100608The inquiry panel is headed by commissioner Zaiton Othman, and includes commissioners Dr Chiam Heng Keng and Khalid Ibrahim.

Suhakam is expected to call a total of 22 witnesses in all.

Among those who were asked to testify are Malaysiakini journalists Syed Jamal Zahiid and Lee Weng Kiat and videographer Ng Kok Foong.

Terms of reference

The panel's three-point terms of reference are:

a) To inquire whether or not any law enforcement personnel, in performance of their duty to maintain law and order, had used excessive force during the incident;

b) If there was excessive use of force, whether there was any violation of human rights of any person or persons and, who were responsible for such violations, and

c) To recommend what action to be taken against those responsible for the violation of human rights.

[More to follow]

Watch 6-min video of police beating Chang

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