A video allegedly showing two auxiliary policemen at the Johor Baru Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) checkpoint embroiled in a fistfight with a taxi driver has gained circulation on Facebook.

The video lasting a little more than a minute, showed the auxiliary policemen punching and kicking the driver, who fought back.

The video uploaded this afternoon on several popular Facebook pages such as 'Sukan Star TV' and 'What's Going On in Johor Baru' also shows a traffic policeman showing up to try to break up the fight.

A source who is related to one of the persons allegedly involved in the video told Malaysiakini that the taxi driver was in the wrong as he had parked in a restricted area.

“The auxiliary police told the taxi driver nicely to move to another area, but instead, the taxi driver got angry.

“He then challenged the policeman to take off his police uniform before proceeding to punch and kick him,” said the source, who declined to be named.

The source also claimed that as the video was edited, whatever that had happened earlier was not shown.

Police confirmation

Confirming the matter, Johor Baru Selatan police chief Sulaiman Salleh told Malaysiakini that the auxiliary policeman had lodged a report over the matter.

 

“Yes, the incident happened at 8.45am on Tuesday, Dec 2. The 38-year-old taxi driver was arrested on the day itself and remanded for two days,” said Sulaiman.

 

Sulaiman said the taxi driver was arrested under two Penal Code provisions: section 186, for obstructing a public servant in discharge of his public functions; and section 323, for voluntarily causing hurt.

 

He said that the auxiliary policeman suffered an injury when the taxi driver held him by the collar, before punching and kicking him.

 

“We have advised the taxi driver to follow the rules because parking at a restricted area will cause unnecessary congestion,” he said.

 

He added that the police will refer the case to the prosecutor’s office as soon as possible.

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