Cop who escorted TMJ pleads guilty to assaulting deaf driver, fined RM1k

A police officer who escorted Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim has pleaded guilty to assaulting disabled e-hailing driver Ong Ing Keong.

The Kuala Lumpur Magistrate’s Court today sentenced Muhammad Taufik Ismail to an RM1,000 fine for causing hurt to the 47-year-old deaf driver around 11.40am in front of the lobby of St Regis Hotel in Kuala Lumpur on May 28.

The charge was framed under Section 323 of the Penal Code, which carried a maximum penalty of a year in jail, RM2,000 fine, or both.

During the open-court proceedings, Taufik apologised through his lawyer A Ashok.

“The accused’s early pleading (guilty) shows his regret and repentance over his actions. He also wishes to apologise to the victim and his family.

“The accused had from the very beginning given cooperation to investigators and also the prosecution. He came to the court today voluntarily to face the charge,” the lawyer said.

Lance corporal has ‘clean record’

In seeking a lesser sentence, Ashok told magistrate Farah Nabihah Muhamad Dan that Taufik had a clean record during his nine-year service with the police and this was the lance corporal’s first offence.

The lawyer said the accused was still willing to plead guilty despite this and the resulting sentence could jeopardise his career as a Special Actions Unit member at Bukit Aman.

Ashok added that Taufik is the eldest son who looks after his 73-year-old father who is unable to walk due to a stroke, and his 60-year-old mother who has high blood pressure.

“This case is not like other cases that resulted in grievous hurt. The injury by the victim was light (per the medical report).

“The offence was committed when the accused was carrying out his duty as an escort. This is not a planned crime to bring injury to the victim. No element of motive.

“The offence does not involve any serious criminal element or extreme violence (unsur keganasan yang melampau).

“There was no use of implements or weapons in causing the injury,” Ashok said.

However, deputy public prosecutor Razali Che Ani sought a deterrent sentence as the case is a public interest issue with wide media coverage.

The prosecutor pointed out that the case has raised public concern over the conduct of the police.

“We seek a deterrent sentence to not only serve as a lesson to the accused but also to society at large.

“The complainant is a disabled person. The accused as a police officer should have helped and cared for the victim rather than injuring the victim,” Razali said.

Nabihah then imposed the fine, ordering Taufik to serve 20 days in jail if the accused failed to pay the penalty.

It is understood that Taufik is settling the fine today.

Victim didn’t understand accused’s hand signal

According to the facts of the case read out in court and confirmed by Taufik, the incident happened when Ong did not understand the accused’s hand signal for the victim to move his Toyota Vios car.

Ong was waiting for five minutes for his passenger in front of the hotel lobby and when the passenger entered the vehicle, the victim noticed Taufik and several other escorts of a VIP (orang kenamaan).

The accused then gave a hand signal for the victim to move his vehicle. However, the deaf driver did not understand the hand signal.

“The complainant had rolled down his window and raised his hand to the accused to ask via sign language what was happening.

“Suddenly, the accused punched the complainant in his right cheek and caused the complainant to feel pain,” the facts of the case read.

Ong then drove away and dropped his passenger off at Segambut before lodging a report at the Brickfields police station.

The case facts stated that the medical report showed the victim suffered swelling on his right cheek (tender over the facial region).

Justice for Ong after more than five months

When met by the media outside the court, Ong’s lawyer Zaid Malek said his client finally got justice since a report was lodged on May 28.

The Lawyers for Liberty spokesperson noted that they did not even know Taufik would be charged in court today, to the extent that Ong was not even able to witness the accused plead guilty.

“We did not know he (Taufik) would be charged today, and Ong was unable to come and see the accused be brought to justice,” Zaid said.

Deaf driver: No politician called, visited or offered help

Five months on, Ong is disheartened but not defeated

Form RCI to probe assaults linked to royalty, Latheefa says

Deaf driver is 'our' people - PKR MP demands answer from law minister

Group launches online petition demanding justice for deaf driver

Assault cases bruising royalty's reputation, Zaid warns authorities