A Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) personnel denied that his team had set upon a Proton Wira and its driver - 23-year-old mechanic Chang Jiun Haur - during the Bandar Mahkota Cheras (BMC) fracas on May 27.

Lance corporal Fariz Abdul Samad, who was supervising a FRU squad at the scene, told this to the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) today.

korporal Fariz Abd Samad 250708 The commission is holding a public inquiry to determine if the police had used excessive force that night.

Narrating what happened, Fariz said: "We were instructed to go there (BMC) to break up an illegal gathering."

"When we arrived, we separated into three groups… I headed the left wing. When we approached the crowd began to disperse. Then we received instructions to move further until the U-turn.

"There was no reason for us to hit or bang the car. We only wanted them (the driver and the passengers) to come out," added the 33-year-old policeman who was grilled for more than two hours.

Fariz said Chang’s car had allegedly sped towards them and knocked two FRU personnel, prompting the rest to react by moving towards the car to stop the mechanic from fleeing.

According to him, it appeared that Chang’s foot was still on the accelerator pedal.

Fariz also denied that the FRU personnel together with plainclothes policemen had later assaulted Chang.

"I did not see it (the assault) and I believe there was no violence," he said, maintaining this stand throughout the entire inquiry session.

He also explained that there was no order given to charge towards the car.

Two FRU personnel hurt

The inquiry panel members also asked Fariz if he had witnessed any FRU personnel being injured in the incident.

cheras mahkota fru assault on car sequence 280508 The lance corporal replied that he was not aware of any injuries at that moment but had later accompanied the two personnel to file a police report and seek medical treatment at the Kajang Hospital.

The duo were identified as constable Mohd Azniey Ahmad Supian, who sustained injuries to his right thumb, and constable Muhammad Firdaus Abdul Rasid who was injured in the knee.

At this juncture, head of the Suhakam panel commissioner Zaiton Othman instructed to replay the 30-minute video clip evidence submitted yesterday by Malaysiakini videographer Ng Kok Foong on the incident.

She then asked Fariz to identify himself and to prove that the FRU personnel were hit by the car.

However, Fariz was unable to pinpoint his position but asserted that he was close enough to see his officers being knocked by the car.

Following this, Suhakam commissioner Dr Chiam Heng Keng asked if he had rushed to the aid of the injured personnel, to which Fariz replied: "I did not, I was focussed on what was happening around me. I had to prevent my troops from more harm."

The panel of observers comprising ASP Arifan Tarewia, Usha Kula of the Bar Council Human Rights Committee, Chang’s lawyer Ben Lee and Suaram coordinator Tah Moo Hui also persistently quizzed Fariz on whether any violence had taken place.

He, however, maintained that the FRU only instructed the driver and passengers to come out of the car and no force was used.

On Wednesday, Chang told the inquiry that he was allegedly beaten by police personnel for no reason. He also denied that he was speeding.

Terms of reference

Although 12 witnesses were scheduled to take the stand today only four were quizzed. Six more police witnesses will testify later but no date has been fixed.

Among those who testified earlier were Malaysiakini journalists Syed Jamal Zahiid and Lee Weng Kiat and videographer Ng.

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.

Watch 6-min video of police beating Chang

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