'Cops extortion' claim - police to summon hawker's girlfriend, father
The father and girlfriend of 21-year-old hawker Lim Thiam Fook will be called up to help in investigations over the latter's allegation that he was extorted by three police officers on June 2.
Sentul district police chief ACP Beh Eng Lai confirmed this with Malaysiakini when contacted, adding that this was part of the investigation process to determine the truth...
The father and girlfriend of 21-year-old hawker Lim Thiam Fook will be called up to help in investigations over the latter's allegation that he was extorted by three police officers on June 2.
Sentul district police chief ACP Beh Eng Lai confirmed this with Malaysiakini when contacted, adding that this was part of the investigation process to determine the truth.
“We have to cover all angles to find out the truth, to verify the authenticity of the (news) report and try to clear any doubts throughout our investigation.
“This is a normal process of an investigation,” Beh said.
He said police visited Thiam Fook's (above) stall earlier today to obtain further statements from the victims and also the owner of the food court where he operated from.
Thiam Fook's father, who was in Tanjung Malim, and his girlfriend, who was working, had yet to present themselves at the police station, Beh added.
Meanwhile, according to a China Press report, Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng said it was unreasonable for police to summon people who were not present at an incident to help in the probe.
On June 6, Thiam Fook and his 13-year-old assistant, accompanied by Lip Eng, held a press conference during which he claimed he was extorted by three police personnel while driving to the food court in the early morning of June 2.
He said when the police officers found out he did not have an approval letter from the International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) to operate during the lockdown, they threatened to detain the two if they could not pay a RM3,000 fine.
He alleged the police officers also poured out his stew onto the ground, saying that they had to "check for drugs" before taking RM500 from him to "settle the issue".
Miti has clarified that small-time hawkers do not need its approval letter and that their hawker's permit would suffice to enable them to operate doing the ongoing movement control order.
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