Cop under probe for 'victim-blaming' cosplayer reporting harassment
A police officer will be investigated over allegations of uttering inappropriate remarks to a cosplayer who was attempting to lodge a report on harassment and stalking.
Yesterday (May 17), Petaling Jaya district police chief Mohamad Fakhruddin Abdul Hamid said that the police personnel involved would be investigated for a disciplinary infraction.
A police officer will be investigated over allegations of uttering inappropriate remarks to a cosplayer who was attempting to lodge a report on harassment and stalking.
Yesterday (May 17), Petaling Jaya district police chief Mohamad Fakhruddin Abdul Hamid said that the police personnel involved would be investigated for a disciplinary infraction.
This was affirmed in a statement released by the Petaling Jaya district police today.
According to the statement, investigations found that the complainant was present at the Kelana Jaya police station in Selangor on May 16 to make a police report but felt uncomfortable with the service and speech by the police.
“The headquarters take the complainant’s claim seriously and a disciplinary investigation has been carried out by the Integrity and Standard Compliance Department (JIPS) of the Petaling Jaya district police headquarters.
“Strict action will be taken against officers or members proven to be involved in the incident,” read the statement.
Two days ago (May 16), a female cosplayer who ran a booth at the Anime Fest at Paradigm Mall in Petaling Jaya over the weekend to interact with fans lodged a police report at the Kelana Jaya police station against a stalker.
According to her police report sighted by Malaysiakini, the social media content creator said she was harassed at her booth by someone who attended the event.
Upon lodging the report, the complainant alleged in a tweet that the male police personnel remarked: “You dress like this to sell photographs. This is the consequence. You are in the wrong too”.
Cosplaying - a portmanteau of “costumes” and “play” - involves people dressing up in costumes resembling cartoon or video game characters.
The 21-year-old claimed she was wearing a jacket to hide her costume when she lodged the report.
Malaysiakini has also reached out to the organiser of the event for comment.
