Four police personnel were today ordered by the Petaling Jaya magistrate’s court to enter their defence over the charge of hurting a businessperson two years ago.

NONE The four, Mohd Azwan Hassan, Norazli Rosle (right) , Ahmad Saifullah Osman and Alizulhafiz Abdul Ghaffar, were jointly charged with causing hurt to Chia Buang Hing at the Kota Damansara police station between 12.30am to 3am on Dec 19, 2010.

Mohd Azwan and Norzali also had their defence called on a second charge of causing hurt to Chia between 11.30pm on Dec 18 and 1230am at Persiaran Tropicana, Kota Damansara.

Magistrate Nik Mohd Fadhli Nik Azlan found that the prosecution has proven a prima facie case, as despite the evidence that Chia’s injuries were not consistent, it was proven that the victim could not have inflicted the injuries himself.

"Hence, this has met the element of causing hurt and a prima facie case is called,” the magistrate said.

NONE The magistrate also ordered Norzali to enter his defence on a third charge of attempting to plant evidence on Chia (left) by putting a machete and 0.01g of heroin on the victim at 2.01am on Dec 19, 2010.

He ordered the trial to resume for three days, beginning May 15.

Meanwhile, the magistrate acquitted another police personnel, Mahadi Adam, of the charge of not following orders, which may have resulted in a calamity to befall Chia.

Two of the accused, Norzali and Mohd Azwan, are presently suspended from duty.

For the causing hurt charge, the four can face a jail term of up to one year or a RM2,000 fine or both. For the offence of fabrication on Norzali, he can face a jail term of up to two years or fine or both.

‘I feel vindicated’

Chia, 35, the owner of an art gallery in Kuala Lumpur, who was present in court, said he felt vindicated that the court had called the four personnel to enter their defence.

NONE “I am glad that finally there is justice and I would like to personally thank my lawyers, the prosecutors and the magistrate in seeing into this,” he said.

“I still have a phobia on seeing policemen,” he said.

Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng said it could be a landmark decision today as this could be the first time a person has been called to enter his defence for fabricating evidence.

The case captured headlines when the businessman claimed that policemen on duty found his car road tax to have expired, and demanded money from him, and then beat him up for refusing.

The police also hauled him to the Kota Damansara police station, where they reportedly continued to assault him for three more days before releasing him on police bail on Dec 22 - but not before “robbing” him of RM13,000.

DPP Amirah Mohamed Yusof and Izazi Muhamedin represented the prosecution while lawyer R Vijayan represented the accused.