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THE human rights group, Lawyers for Liberty (LFL), today released dashcam footage showing the assault of deaf Grab driver Ong Ing Keong.
Ong's lawyer, N. Surendran, stated that they decided to release the one-minute video due to the lack of police action in bringing the perpetrator to justice.
“This press conference was unnecessary, but it had to be done because, to this day, more than two and a half months after the incident, no one has been brought to justice,” said the former PKR MP.
Surendran said that despite assurances from Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain that the investigation papers have been submitted to the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC), no one has been charged with the assault.
The video, released this afternoon, clearly shows Ong being punched by a man in a suit while another man, dressed in a police uniform, stands nearby.
A hotel staff member is also heard in the video asking Ong to move his vehicle before the attacker punches him in the face.
However, the face of the attacker was not captured by the camera as the incident occurred swiftly.
Surendran expressed his disappointment with the slow progress in bringing the suspect to justice, pointing out that the police had received the same evidence a day after the attack.
“How long must the victim wait for justice to be served? It is clear as day that Ong was punched by the security escort.
“There is no doubt that a crime was committed, and it is disappointing that the police have failed to carry out their duty when the evidence is there,” said Surendran.
On 26 May, 46-year-old Ong was assaulted by a security personnel who was escorting a VVIP outside St Regis Hotel in Kuala Lumpur while he was waiting to pick up customers outside the lobby.
Ong alleged that a man knocked on his car window and then punched him in the face. He lodged two reports at the Brickfields police station and received treatment at Kuala Lumpur Hospital for a soft tissue injury.
On 31 May, the Regent of Johor, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, urged police to investigate the alleged assault, stating that he wanted justice for Ong. He added that he had instructed the police escort team to cooperate with the investigation.
Tunku Ismail also condemned attempts to drag the royal institution into the matter, stating that it was inappropriate to link the actions of external security personnel with himself and the royal institution.
Ong was summoned to Bukit Aman on 5 June to assist in a disciplinary inquiry into the incident. The case is being investigated under Section 323 for causing voluntary hurt. Ong was questioned for four hours, accompanied by lawyers and an interpreter.
On 14 June, Razarudin announced that the investigation papers had been sent to the AGC.
At today’s press conference, Ong, who was present, could not hold back his tears as he watched the incident again.
“If I am brave enough to show my face, it is the duty of the police to reveal the identity of my attacker,” Ong said. – August 14, 2024.