Liu's aide injured in scuffle with MACC officers

Selangor executive council member Ronnie Liu's assistant was injured today after a scuffle with Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers.

Wong Chuan How, 50, suffered injuries to his leg after allegedly being pushed by MACC officers and has lodged a police report over the incident.

According to Liu, the incident took place at DAP's Sungai Pelek service centre where Wong's appointment with MACC officers was supposed to take place.

"They made an appointment to question Wong as a witness, but when they saw lawyers at the service centre, they changed their tone and said he was a suspect and must be arrested," said Liu.

Liu said Wong refused to follow the MACC officers because Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim had ordered all state officers to be investigated in their respective premises, after DAP political aide Teoh Beng Hock's death last month.

But when the three MACC officers tried to physically remove Wong from the premises, the latter fell on the ground and was injured. He is apparently unable to walk unaided.

According to Liu, the MACC officers had an arrest warrant with them when they had come to interview Wong. DAP leaders claimed that the warrant did not clearly state the charge against Wong.

Eventually, Liu and Wong - who was on a wheelchair - went to the Sungai Pelek police station to lodge a police report. They were followed by the MACC officers.

At the police station, Wong, who was visibly upset by the ordeal, broke into tears and repeatedly stressed that he was innocent.

"I'm just serving the people. Even my car's roof has a rusty hole. What have I done wrong? Why do you treat me like this?"

Tailed and watched at hospital

After lodging the police report, Wong was taken to Serdang Hospital with MACC officers in tow. An X-ray was subsequently performed on his leg.

Liu said negotiations took place with the MACC officers to put off the arrest in view of Wong's injury, who would need a week to recover.

More MACC officers arrived at the hospital. About 20 of them were seen in the hospital vicinity, of which four were guarding Wong, who was resting on a hospital bed.

Segambut MP and Wong's counsel Lim Lip Eng said the MACC officers were insisting on arresting his client, and even tried to follow him into the X-ray room, where he was scanned twice.

Lim said the arrest warrant does not state what his client's alleged offences were but merely stated that he might be charged for an offence.

The MP-cum-lawyer also denied news reports that Wong had "gone missing" over the past few weeks, which insinuated that he was avoiding the MACC.

"No! That is not true! He attended so many party functions. I just saw him on Tuesday," said Lim.

Wong was spotted performing paperwork at Liu's office when Malaysiakini visited the place last Thursday.

On Monday, MACC officers recorded a statement from Wong into alleged abuse of allocation for Selangor state assemblymen.

At 7.15pm, Lim told Malaysiakini that MACC officers had agreed to let Wong free on bail with one surety.

LATEST:

At 9.40pm, the MACC officers left the hospital after processing bail documents for Wong in the hospital. Wong's wife paid RM3,000 bail.

Wong was then discharged after a total of three X-rays were taken. He will have to surrender himself to the MACC on Aug 20.

Meanwhile, Bernama reported that MACC clarified in a statement that Wong was never pushed by officers as claimed by him.

According to the statement, Wong fell to the ground by himself. MACC explained that the incident occured at DAP's Sungai Pelek service centre today when seven officers went there to arrest him in connection with an ongoing investigation.

When they arrived at the premises, Wong and his lawyer were already there.

"Our officers served the notice of arrest under Section 53(3) of MACC Act 2009 on Wong.

"The officers also explained the notice to Wong and requested him to sign it but he refused," the statement said.

Wong was escorted to the MACC car which was parked outside the premises.

At this juncture, he refused to get into the car and walked away but the officers tried to stop him and insisted that he got into the car.

"He then fell to the ground by himself at this point," the statement said.

Later, MACC officers allowed and escorted him to the police station to make a report against the officers.

He alleged that he was pushed by them causing him to fall and sustain injuries.

The MACC officers had lodged a counter police report.