The five police officers accused of assaulting businessman Chia Buang Hing were allowed to leave the Petaling Jaya Magistrate Court through a entrance meant for detainees, avoiding pressmen, despite the magistrate's ruling that the accused cannot be given special treatment.

"What is this? Magistrate! This is happening right before your eyes," shouted Chia's lawyer Lim Lip Eng as the five were being escorted out at the conclusion of the second mention today.

Magistrate Nik Mohd Fadli Nik Azlan replied that he had no power to instruct the police on this matter.

NONE Earlier, Lim ( left ) had complained that the five were allowed to use the alternative entrance to the courtroom as a means of avoiding press photographers during previous proceedings.

"Everyone is equal before the law, even (former Transport Minister) Ling Liong Sik and (former Selangor Menteri Besar) Dr Mohd Khir Toyo can only go out the court through the main door. Why is there special treatment for the five accused?" asked Lim.

He argued that the entrance he was referring to was only meant for detainees and not for those on the dock.

Lawyer: Magistrate doesn't know the law

Lawyer for the accused Ahmad Zaharil Muhaiyar replied that the court should protect the privacy of the accused prior to sentencing.

Speaking to reporters later, Lim said that he would file a complaint with the Petaling Jaya Court registrar soon.

"The magistrate is in fact in contempt of court. Under court procedures, the accused is not allowed to enter a prohibited areas such as the holding room for detainees.

"But just now, this happened right before the magistrate and under my protest. To me, this is utter nonsense, the magistrate doesn't know the law or he was biased towards the five accused.

"When court is proceeding, the magistrate has the highest power, he can even order the police to arrest those creating problems in court. If someone uses a handphone, he can confiscate it," he said.

Hearing dates fixed

On Jan 11, four constables - Mohd Azwan Hassan, Norzali Rosle, Ahmad Saifullah Osman and Alizulhafiz Abdul Ghafar - were charged for intentionally causing hurt to Chia during the early hours of Dec 19 last year.

Lance Corporal Mahadi Adam, faces a charge of disobeying an order under Section 20 (3) of the Police Act 1967 in relation to the same incident.

Magistrate Nik Mohd Fadli earlier set April 11 to 13 and May 9 to 11 for the hearing of these charges.

Norzali faces a separate charge of making a false police report against Chia. This trial is set for April 19.

Chia claimed that during the Dec 19 incident , he was assaulted by several police officers who also stole RM13,000 from him at a roadblock.

He alleged that the assaults continued when he was under remand from Dec 19 to Dec 22.

While under custody, Chia claimed that the police officers had ordered him to admit to being injured in a car accident or else a blood-stained machete or drugs would be planted in his car.

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